Aviation Minister pledges to solve AI crisis within three months

Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh on Saturday informed to media that ongoing crisis in Air India (AI) due to AI Pilot's "illegal" strike would be solved soon as Ministry receives Justice "Dharmadhikari report" on it.

He was speaking to reporters here on the sideline of inaugurating newly constructed integrated terminal at Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport in Amausi.

"Efforts are being made to resolve the situation. It is my appeal to the pilots that they should think about the passengers," said civil aviation minister.

"If passengers are unhappy, it would create more problems in days to come. If the airline does not survive, then there is no meaning of other things like salary, promotion or increment," he added.

Pointing out to recently bailout package, Singh said, "The government has already given a package of Rs 30,000 crore for the revival of AI. But, money alone cannot solve the problem. The airline has to be competitive and pay attention to the cost."

Citing AI Pilot's strike "illegal" Ajit Singh said that Justice Dharmadhikari Committee report might come soon. Justice Dharmadhikari Committee was constituted to look into the problems faced by the pilots of the AI.

Ajit Singh who willing to increase flight connectivity in Uttar Pradesh from Centre and other parts of the country said, ?There is a need of expanding existing airports and airstrips but prime obstacle is availability of land.'

He asked Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Akhilesh Yadav to change the state's existing land acquisition policy and adopt the Centre's policy.

Singh said UP has only two customs airport - at Lucknow and Varanasi - which would be given the status of international airports soon and added there was a proposal of maintenance, overhaul and repair facility in UP, which could attract an investment of 200 to 300 million US dollars.

--With Agencies Inputs--