Air India strike: Passengers' woes continue

Mumbai/New Delhi, May 15 (ANI): Passengers continued to suffer as the Air India pilots' strike entered its eight day on Tuesday.

Scores of passengers were seen waiting near the booking offices at the airport in Mumbai.

Surendra Gowda, a passenger from Gorakhpur city told reporters that he was waiting since May 12 as his first flight was cancelled.The flight was cancelled because of the strike. Since May 12, we have been wandering here. Today we have got a flight at 3.15 p.m but there is less hope whether the pilots would take us or not. We have got the tickets. If they take us then it would good for us by god's grace otherwise we will have to wander over here," said Gowda.

He pointed out that no alternative arrangements were made for the passengers by the airlines.

Meanwhile, passengers in New Delhi blamed the airport authorities for turning a deaf ear to their grievances and plight.

"The ticket is in hand but no one is over here. I (speculate) whether I would have to loose the flight. I have to go to Kochi and then I have to fly to Dubai. If they will not respond then I would lose my time and money," said Dharmendra Gave, a pssenger.

Dubbing their stir "meaningless" after a court order, Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh said: "This strike is meaningless now. What are they striking for? You cannot undo what the Supreme Court has done."

"The Supreme Court will undo it, they will have the final say. It was just an interim order, so their appeal would still be heard in the Supreme Court in the coming time," Singh told media here.

About 500 Air India pilots who fly international routes have been demanding their colleagues from former state-owned partner Indian Airlines should not be trained to fly Dreamliners, as it may hurt the career prospects of original Air India staff.

The two companies were merged in 2007 but there have been problems with integration. Air India's purchase of Dreamliners was also criticised by a central auditor last year for "imposing an undue long-term financial burden". (ANI)