Air India cabin crew call off strike

Air India cabin crew personnel, who were on a strike for the past two days, have decided to go back to work after their sustenance allowance dues were partially paid today, sources said.

The strike started as airline management had not paid the allowance for five months.

This allowance is given to the crew in foreign currency for expenses during stop-overs at international destinations.

The cabin crew had been protesting against non-payment of salaries for the past two months and of sustenance allowance since August.

Monthly sustenance allowance ranging from USD 800 to USD 1,500 is paid for expenses such as meals and transportation when the crew is on a 'lay over' abroad in between the flights.

"We have been paid allowance for August and so we will go back to work. We hope we won't have to go on strike again for payment of allowance for the pending four months," a source in All India Cabin Crew Association said.

However, there was no comment from the Air India management.

At least four international flights from Delhi were delayed for a few hours two days ago, as around 231 cabin crew members refused to fly, forcing the airline to look for replacements.