Civil aviation ministry, pilots to resume talks

Air India (AI) services remained crippled for the ninth day today even as the striking pilots and civil aviation ministry were set to resume talks to end the deadlock.

An Air India spokesperson said the airline managed to operate only 10% of its services.

The civil aviation ministry yesterday held talks with the agitating pilots to find a way to break the ice following the strike. The talks, however, were inconclusive.

The AI will, meanwhile, continue to operate chartered flights with help of private airlines. The national carrier yesterday operated 18 chartered flights, 16 domestic and two international, using aircraft borrowed from Kingfisher and Air Arabia.

The striking pilots are demanding that all sackings, suspensions and transfers effected during the strike period be revoked, ICPA's recognition be restored, the contempt of court petition filed by Air India management be withdrawn, CBI probe into the alleged corruption and mismanagement be ordered and all other issues be tackled in a time-bound manner.

Air India has sacked seven pilots and suspended six and the management has decided not to process the April salaries of the agitators "till further instructions".

The Delhi high court had on Tuesday slapped contempt notices on nine office bearers of the de-recognised ICPA for disobeying its order to call off the strike.