Second round of talks between Govt. and striking pilots today

New Delhi, May 5 (ANI): With the pilots' strike entering its ninth-day, the second round of talks between Air India and pilots to end the deadlock will take place today.

Civil Aviation Secretary Naseem Zaidi said that the first round of talks had covered majority of the issues and that the remaining one or two points would be discussed in a second meeting on Thursday afternoon.

Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) General Secretary Rishabh Kapur said: "We are happy to have finally met and held talks. The talks are moving forward and going in a positive direction. We will meet again on Thursday."

Earlier, the Delhi High Court has issued a contempt notice to nine officers of ICPA, who are spearheading the pilots strike.

The pilots have been given two weeks to respond to the notices. The next date of hearing in the contempt case is on May 25.

The Delhi High Court also criticized the striking pilots for the loss they have caused to the nation.

Earlier, the court asked the pilots to resumed their work, warning that 'this strike will not see another day'.

A division bench of Justices B D Ahmed and Beena Birbal, which heard a plea for initiation of contempt proceedings against the striking pilots, said: "You call off the strike, we will press the management to consider your demand. This strike will not see another day."

Over 1600 pilots of the Indian Commercial Pilots' Association (ICPA), who belonged to the Indian Airlines and were employed by Air India after the merger of the two carriers in 2007, have been on an indefinite strike since April 27 demanding pay parity.

The ICPA claims that while Air India pilots enjoy a huge fixed salary component, the same is almost minuscule for former IA pilots in 2007. (ANI)