Air India Pilots' Strike Enters Week Two, Despite Contempt Notices and 'No Work, No Pay' Rule

Strategic Insights -

The strike by Air India pilots, which has been ongoing for a week, has entered its second week, with the airline operating only about 40 flights out of a daily average of 320 services. The Delhi High Court has slapped contempt notices on nine union leaders of the striking pilots, while the management has issued directions to not process the salaries of those who are not joining duty. Despite this, the government is keen to settle the issue, with Indian Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi saying that the government is willing to settle the issue and hopes wisdom will prevail on the pilots.

Key Takeaways:

  • The strike has resulted in the cancellation of almost 90% of Air India's daily services, with private carriers flying about 15,000-16,000 passengers of AI each day.
  • The pilots are demanding pay parity with their colleagues of erstwhile Air India, better working conditions, and a CBI inquiry into alleged withdrawal of flights from profitable routes, aircraft purchase, and other issues.
  • Of the total 1,200 pilots, over 800 belonging to the erstwhile Indian Airlines have gone on strike, while the remaining 400, mostly operating international flights, owe allegiance to the Indian Pilots Guild.
  • Seven pilots have been sacked and six suspended, with the sacked pilots required to give an undertaking which could be considered favorably by the management.
  • The Justice Dharmadhikari Committee is considering the pilots' demand for compensation of 75 'fixed flying hours allowance' along with their 'lay over subsistence allowance'.
  • The High Court has appointed senior lawyer Siddharth Luthra as amicus curiae to assist the court on legal issues.

Statistics:

  • 320: daily average of Air India services before the strike
  • 40: number of daily flights operated by Air India during the strike
  • 90%: percentage of daily services cancelled due to the strike
  • 15,000-16,000: number of passengers flown by private carriers during the strike
  • 9,000: number of seats offered by Air India each day during the strike
  • 1,200: total number of pilots
  • 800: number of pilots from erstwhile Indian Airlines on strike
  • 400: number of pilots from the Indian Pilots Guild, mostly operating international flights

Sources:

  • Asia Pulse, May 4, 2015
  • PTI, May 4, 2015