40 AI flights cancelled

  On Monday, it also became clear that there was division among the executive pilots on joining the strike as the senior cockpit crew of only Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata struck work while pilots based in other cities reported for duty.

While the talks between Jadhav and the agitating pilots remained deadlocked in Delhi, the state-run loss-making airline issued a statement in Mumbai saying orders have been issued for the payment of PLI and flying allowances of July, payable in August.

The payment will be disbursed immediately, the release added. The management said it is open for further negotiations and that a decision on thorny issues like the pilots’ incentives will be taken up shortly.

Speaking to reporters, Captain V K Bhalla, representative of the agitating pilots, said: “The talks have ended in a stalemate as the management refused to give a positive reply over the payment of our due salary and the withdrawal of the PLI-cut order. The salary of the pilots will be paid with the cut but he (Jadhav) refused to give any exact date or time of the payment.”

The Civil Aviation Ministry has called a meeting of all airlines on Tuesday to discuss the situation arising out of the agitation.