New Delhi:
On day four of the pilots' strike, Air India could only manage 39 domestic flights today instead of its usual 320. With 800 pilots refusing to end their strike, no one knows what will happen next.
And passengers' misery continued, especially in those cities serviced only by Air India.
"My relative is seriously ill, it was necessary for me to go. Why do people take airline tickets? To reach faster, and now it doesn't have any meaning," said Mr Yogesh, a businessman.
Another horrible fallout of the strike is evident on cancer patients across the country who are being deprived of life saving drugs.
A large consignment of radio isotopes, used for diagnosis and treatment of cancer, is stuck at Mumbai and Air India is the main carrier that transports it.
Six hundred patients in Kerala alone wait in hope.
"It is short-lived and perishable medicines. Since it's stuck in the airport, it is getting exhausted and patients are also not getting benefit," said Ajith Kumar, a doctor.
Meanwhile, Air India domestic operations remain severely crippled as the stalemate between the pilots and management continues.
"The question is: The management wants to lock this airline down but they don't want to talk," said Captain AS Bhinder, President, ICPA.
The minister now says there is a no threat of a lock out in Air India and the pilots must return to work.
And passengers' misery continued, especially in those cities serviced only by Air India.
"My relative is seriously ill, it was necessary for me to go. Why do people take airline tickets? To reach faster, and now it doesn't have any meaning," said Mr Yogesh, a businessman.
Another horrible fallout of the strike is evident on cancer patients across the country who are being deprived of life saving drugs.
A large consignment of radio isotopes, used for diagnosis and treatment of cancer, is stuck at Mumbai and Air India is the main carrier that transports it.
Six hundred patients in Kerala alone wait in hope.
"It is short-lived and perishable medicines. Since it's stuck in the airport, it is getting exhausted and patients are also not getting benefit," said Ajith Kumar, a doctor.
Meanwhile, Air India domestic operations remain severely crippled as the stalemate between the pilots and management continues.
"The question is: The management wants to lock this airline down but they don't want to talk," said Captain AS Bhinder, President, ICPA.
The minister now says there is a no threat of a lock out in Air India and the pilots must return to work.
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