Mumbai, September 09: Jet Airways and its agitating pilots were trying to find a way to end the stir that led to cancellation of over 200 flights as more than 400 cockpit crew failed to turn up for work for the second day today.
But for harried passengers, uncertainty continued as there was no sign of normalcy being restored.
The protesting pilots expressed their readiness to talk to the management but insisted on reinstatement of four of their sacked colleagues while refusing to disband their newly created National Aviators Guild (NAG), the union spearheading the stir.
On its part, the airlines said it was willing to talk but Chairman Naresh Goyal made it clear that he will not allow the pilots hold the operations of the carrier to ransom and action will be taken if they did not see reason.
Amid hectic efforts to end the stand-off, including through back channels, Goyal had an hour-long meeting with Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel in Delhi. NAG leaders met interlocutors to find a solution, informed sources said.
In Mumbai, Jet chief commercial officer Sudheer Raghavan told reporters, “Doors are open. We will be sitting together.”
Readiness for talks was also voiced by NAG leader and sacked pilot Captain Sam Thomas. But he insisted that the union will not be disbanded.
Earlier, Goyal said that the airlines will be left with no option but to “sack more” if the agitators did not follow the company rules and procedures.
—PTI