A section of Air India pilots operating long distance international flights has threatened to go on strike in mid-November to press their demand for immediate payment of salary and incentives pending for the last few months.
In addition, they have sought a solution to issues pertaining to their “career progression and promotion”.
Pilots of the Indian Pilots Guild (IPG) operate flights to the UK, the US, Tokyo and Hong Kong.
They feel that the erstwhile IA team is being given preference for the training of Boeing 787 Dreamliner planes scheduled to join the fleet early next year.
However, a decision on the strike will be taken through a ballot.
“A case has been filed in the Bombay High Court and a decision on the strike will be taken in the middle of next week,” an IPG spokesperson told Business Line .
The IPG represents about 300 pilots of the pre-merger AI, while 1,400 pilots of the then IA are affiliated to the Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA).
The ICPA, however, reiterated that they would not join any form of agitation with their IPG colleagues, the sources said.
The Air India officials refused to comment on the issue.
They said the pattern of training for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner was done in consultation with the ICPA and IPG.
The double-decker jumbo planes were ordered in 2005, when IA and AI were separate entities. While IA ordered 43 Airbus planes, AI ordered 27 Boeing 777s and 23 787s.
The strike will affect several international passengers and, worse, cripple the cash-strapped airline.
It is also likely to impact flights to West Asia where IPG members fly AI Express on that route.
AI has about Rs 42,570 crore of debt and is pulling all stops to woo passengers at home and abroad at a time when the global economy is going through its share of hiccups.
AI's passenger revenue was Rs 11,000 crore in 2010-11, while that from cargo was Rs 900 crore.