September 10, 2009
Jet Airways pilots’ stir on Thursday entered the third day amidst indications that no breakthrough was achieved in the talks between the airline management and the agitators as passengers continued to face a harrowing time with nearly 200 flights being cancelled.
Pilots have indicated that they would continue their stir against sacking of two of their colleagues after no headway was made in the discussions between the two sides till late Wednesday with the protestors insisting that their trade union rights cannot be curtailed.
The two parties are likely to meet the Labour commissioner in Mumbai where a case relating to sacking of the two senior pilots is pending.
A spokesperson of the airlines said it has cancelled 163 domestic and 35 international flights as 400 of its over 1000 pilots did not report for duty.
Capt Sam Thomas, Joint General Secretary of National Aviators Guild, which is spearheading the agitation, claimed that overall 500 pilots have reported sick.
“There are no talks so far. We have not got any invite from the management side showing their willingness to talk to us,” he said.
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Jet cancelled 21 international flights operating on South East Asia sector to Bangkok, Hong Kong and Singapore. The airlines services to Gulf countries, the US and Europe, to which flights were operated on Wednesday, were also badly affected. Jet has also cancelled its flight to Dubai, Muscat, Kuwait, US and Europe, airport sources said.
In Delhi, about 15 flights remained cancelled.
“Due to continued pilot agitation, disruptions are expected on the Jet Airways network and consequently, certain flights have been cancelled. On disrupted flights, guests will get full refund or they can reissue/rebook flights without any penalty,” a Jet Airways spokesperson said.
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