A section of Air India pilots has warned that they would not operate flights from April 1 if their salary dues are not cleared by then.
In a letter addressed to the Director-General of Civil Aviation, the Indian Pilots Guild informed that “psychological stress and financial distress” could “adversely affect” their ability to safely discharge their duties and endanger lives. IPG represents pilots of pre-merger Air India.
“Pilots will be unable to operate flights on and after April 1, unless the management clears all the dues,” Mr Jeetendra Awhad, President of IPG, wrote in the letter sent to the Civil Aviation Minister, Mr Ajit Singh, Labour Minister, Mr Mallikarjun Kharge, and the Air India management.
Mr Awhad sought the “urgent intervention” of the two Ministers and others in resolving the issue at the earliest. The dues comprise basic salaries from December last year till February, Layover Allowance from December to March and Flying Allowance from November to February.
“This amounts to withholding approximately more than quarter of the yearly emoluments. This non-payment of dues has caused tremendous hardship to our members,” IPG wrote in the letter.
This is the second time this year that Air India pilots have threatened to go on strike over delays in salary payments. In January, pilots owing allegiance to the Indian Commercial Pilot's Association of erstwhile Indian Airlines had gone on a two-day ‘no-pay-no-work' agitation, leading to flight disruptions.