AI, Kingfisher staff on strike; several flights cancelled

The aviation situation in the country has become worsen on Friday, as state run airline Air India (AI) retained its three day strike to Friday and decided to cancel its several flights. On the other hand beleaguered private airline Kingfisher Airline (KFA) too has announced to cancel its flights from Friday midnight in the north Indian sectors due to its four-dozen pilots reported sick.

The rising number of flight cancellation has increased the problems of air travelers who have bought tickets of AI and KFA for various purposes like important business meetings, medical emergencies and holiday plans.

According to news reports, Air India has cancelled its six flights, including Seoul-Hongkong-New Delhi, New Delhi-Toronto, Mumbai-Newark, Mumbai-London and AI Express's Mumbai-Mangalore and Mangalore-Mumbai.

KFA on the other hand has cancelled at least 12 flights mainly in north Indian sectors that will ruin the plans of tourists who wanted to spent their holidays in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir etc..

According to sources, KFA has got applications of four-dozen pilots' sickness.

Seeking to take actions against pilots and staffs strike, the AI authorities have moved to Apex Court. On the other hand, the Indian Pilots Guild (IPG), while accusing Air India management of backtracking on its commitments, have sought Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh's intervention and appealed him to "open negotiation channels" to resolve the crises.

The pilots of the cash-strapped KFA, who have been demanding salaries on time, claim that the airline management went back on its commitment of paying up from May 9, and hence they resorted to the agitation.

Despite several attempts, KFA officials remained unavailable for their comments.

-With IANS Inputs--