Air India offers olive branch to end stalemate with striking pilots

Mumbai, Sep 27(ANI): The deadlock between Air India management and agitating pilots on Sunday appeared to be heading towards a positive direction, as Air India management reportedly offered an olive branch to the striking pilots by agreeing to withdraw incentive-cut.

Air India management, moreover, has also agreed to set up a committee to look into the Productivity-Linked Incentives (PLI) modalities.

The pilots' body is adamant over the issue, but representative of the agitating executive pilots, Captain V K Bhalla said that any talks with Air India management would take place only on a neutral platform. He also said that 70 per cent cut in incentives should be removed before talks, said a Times now report on Sunday evening.

Earlier in the day, the executive pilots of the national carrier did not report to work on Sunday and continued their protest for the second day against cut in the PLI.

Air India had to cancel 24 flights on Sunday morning after the agitating pilots continued to maintain that the airlines management was trying to play down the effectiveness of their strike.

Air India management also insisted that the strike would not be allowed to have an impact on their operations.

Meanwhile, the Indian Commercial Pilot's Association (ICPA), a union of the non-executive pilots recognised by the airline, extended its moral support to the agitating pilots. (ANI)