New Delhi, June 6: Civil aviation minister Ajit Singh today said he would not negotiate with the striking Air India pilots and those who had been sacked could return to work only if they applied afresh along with the new pilots to be inducted within the next six months.
The strike today entered the 30th day. Of the 200 striking pilots, Air India has sacked 101.
“If the pilots do not accept the Dharmadhikari report, I don’t think there is any point in their coming back,” Singh said.
The Justice D.M. Dharmadhikari report deals with staff integration in Air India and the erstwhile Indian Airlines consequent to their merger in 2007.
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| Air India pilots at a silent protest march in New Delhi on Wednesday. Picture by Ramakant Kushwaha |
The Indian Pilots Guild (IPG) — which is spearheading the agitation — had said the report was tailor-made to suit the interests of the employees of Indian Airlines.
However, Singh said the remaining 99 pilots could resume work with no precondition. Ninety pilots are undergoing training and will be ready to fly in August.
Singh today unveiled a global operations plan, which included the launch of flights. He said Air India would receive three Boeing 787 Dreamliners by the end of this month.
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