Executive pilots of state-owned Air India (AI) have called off their strike following assurance from Union civil aviation minister Praful Patel. The pilots were protesting against a 50% cut in their productivity-linked incentives (PLI) and payment of their due flying allowance of three months.
The four-day strike has forced the airline to cancel over 240 flights in the last four days.
Captain V K Bhalla, who was spearheading the agitation said, “We apologise for inconvenience caused to passengers, we have full faith in Praful Patel’s assurances.”
Civil aviation minister Praful Patel on Tuesday appealed to the striking pilots to return to work failing which the management was free to take any action against them.
Meanwhile, AI chairman and managing director Arvind Jadhav stated that the PLI and allowance for July have been paid and will be reflect in the account of pilots by October 6 or 7.