In a major relief for air travellers, the Delhi High Court on Wednesday declared the strike by a section of Air India pilots as illegal.
Putting a stay on the strike that led to several flight cancellations, the HC said no sick leaves would be allowed to pilots of the national air carrier till further notice.
Further, the court has sought a reply from the Indian Pilots’ Guild on the matter within two weeks.
The Air India management had earlier in the day moved the Delhi HC seeking an order restraining the pilots from going on strike.
A section of Air India pilots owing allegiance to Indian Pilots’ Guild went on strike on Tuesday following failure of talks with the Air India management.
The IPG pilots have been agitating over the rescheduling of Boeing 787 Dreamliner training and matters relating to their career progression.
Disappointed over the management’s attitude, some 100 odd pilots had joined the IPG agitation by going on sick leave in the midst of their talks with the management of Air India which had led to cancellation of flights.
Four Air India international flights from New Delhi and Mumbai were cancelled this morning.
On May 5, a section of pilots had reported sick, apparently to protest the move, resulting in cancellation of one international flight and delaying another two.