Air India pilots' strike enters Day 9

New Delhi, May 16 (ANI): At least nine international flights were cancelled from Mumbai and Delhi, as the pilots' strike entered its ninth day on Wednesday.

The government on Tuesday promised to hear the pilots' grievances unconditionally and appealed to them to return to work.

Replying to a debate in the Lok Sabha, Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh said there would be no vindictive action if the striking pilots came for talks unconditionally, but remained silent on the fate of the 71 pilots already sacked.

"Strike is not an answer to solve your grievances.... All the grievances will be heard unconditionally. You come to talks unconditionally ... Please go back to work," he said.

"Air India management will in no way be vindictive towards any employee.... A lot of young people have just joined (as pilots). But the first priority should be that passengers are not inconvenienced," he added.

He also said that the Justice Dharmadhikari Committee report relating to the human resource policy for its employees will be implemented after taking all sections into confidence.

Meanwhile, Air India has activated a contingency plan to avoid passenger's inconvenience.

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

Both 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)