Air India comes to the rescue of stranded passengers

National carrier Air India today came to the rescue of a large number of stranded Jet Airways passengers by accommodating them on their flights after the pilots of the private airline went on a flash strike.

A total of 427 passengers of Jet Airways and Jet Konnect were accommodated by Air India and Air India Express on their domestic and international routes. Over 300 pilots of Jet Airways today went on mass sick leave in protest against sacking of two senior pilots for forming a union -- National Aviator's Guild.

"We have played the role of a national carrier. We have accommodated 232 passengers on our domestic flights and 90 on the international flights," an airlines spokesperson said adding that 105 other passengers will fly to Dubai at night.

Air India officials at various domestic airports were directed to help the passengers so that they were are not left stranded and inconvenienced. In Delhi, a separate counter has been opened at terminal 1D, from where Jet Airways operates, so that passengers could take tickets and boarding passes of Air India flights, the official said.

AI integrated the seats available on its domestic flights, domestic leg of its international flights and on Air India Express to make the maximum capacity available with it and was in constant touch with Jet officials over the arrangement of special flights.

"We have kept aircraft and crew on standby at major airports to accommodate passengers on additional flights at short notice," he added.