At the same time, Air India has issued showcause notices to three pilots for not turning up for duty on Sunday, they added.
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The association observed that the airline seemed to have developed a careless attitude, especially towards the pilots of erstwhile Indian Airlines.
Air India has lashed out at pilots for refusing to report for duty on 4 September to protest non-payment of allowances. The pilots are also angry over the delay in payment of global crew layover allowance that they are entitled to when flying overseas.
While both investigations are progressing, Air India has also referred the pilot’s case to its medical board since it involves “psychological issues at the individual level”. While warning pilots, Lohani – who comes from Railways and is neither an AI, nor IA person – has told employees categorically that he will do whatever it takes to resolve unsolved issues but the difference among employees should not damage the airline or inconvenience passengers.
The ICPA has threatened that they would wait for another couple of days. Riled, its leaders had asked all ICPA members to decide their weekly off on their own. A senior officer said some pilots affiliated to the Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association (ICPA, union of erstwhile IA pilots) did not report to work on Sunday that led to delaying of nearly 15 flights and cancellations of three, inconveniencing passengers tremendously.
Specific details of which flights were affected could also not be immediately ascertained even as sources said mostly domestic services were impacted. They, however, said ICPA-which represents around 750 pilots of narrow-body planes-is unlikely to soften its stances on their pending issues for which they are demanding resolution at the earliest.
“Our patience has run thin”.
On 5 September, the national carrier warned that it would carry out “exemplary disciplinary action” against employees “sabotaging” the progress of the national carrier.
AI spokesperson, however, said, “At the meeting, it was decided that the management would not tolerate anymore anti-Air India element in the organisation and warned the employees to stay away from anti-Air India employees”.
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On September 1, the ICPA had flagged continuing pay anomalies in a strongly-worded letter to Air India’s Director (Finance).
