With Air India pilots’ strike entering its sixteenth day on Wednesday, the airline has filed contempt petition against striking pilots in the Delhi High Court.
On May 17, the Delhi High Court had asked the striking Air India pilots to call off their agitation immediately or face contempt action.
According to TV reports, the airline management has also extended its contingency plan of curtailed operations to June 1.
Earlier, Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh had said during a Rajya Sabha debate that the government is ready to discuss all issues with the striking pilots.
Making a statement in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, Singh said that the pilots are on a strike, which has already been declared illegal by Bombay High Court. He said the pilots struck work without giving any notice.
The ongoing pilots’ agitation has resulted in cancellation of several flights of the ailing airlines, including many international ones, causing significant trouble to passengers and also, a loss of well over Rs.200 crore to the exchequer.
About 500 Air India pilots who fly international routes have been demanding that their colleagues from Indian Airlines should not be trained to fly Dreamliners, as they believe it may hurt the career prospects of original Air India staff.
Both companies were merged in 2007, but there have been problems with integration. A central auditor also criticized Air India’s purchase of Dreamliners last year for “imposing an undue long-term financial burden”.
The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) had on April 25 decided to raise airport fares, including User Development Fee (UDF), by 346 percent for two years.
The newly introduced UDF at the Delhi airport seems to be upsetting many. Passengers and airlines would now have to pay 346 percent more as compared to what they paid to the airport operator-the GMR Group-along with its consortium.
As per the airports regulator order, the UDF for international travel would be rupees 845.50 for outgoing passengers travelling between 2,000 -5,000 kilometres and Rupees 699.17 for incoming ones.
For those traveling beyond 5,000 kilometres, the UDF would be rupees 1,068 for outgoing and rupees 881.10 for incoming.
—Agencies