AI domestic services not hit by pilots strike: Official

Chennai, May 25: The ongoing

by a section of

pilots has not affected the national carrier's operations in the domestic sector, a senior airlines official said today.

"A total number of 108 flights a day are being operated from various stations in the southern region as per schedule," Sunil Kishen, Executive Director (South), Air India, said.

Speaking to reporters here, he said, the carrier was maintaining its summer schedule of operations to the Gulf and South East Asia but admitted there was a "small dip" in the passenger count on all sectors following apprehensions arising due to the strike.

"None of our pilots in this sector has gone on strike and it is the regular workforce which is operating the flights. And even in the sectors where a section of pilots has gone on strike, a contingency plan has been put in and passengers are being flown to the destinations," he said.

The US and Europe routes were affected but contingency plans were on to handle the situation, he said, adding there were no direct flights from the southern region to these sectors.

To a question, he said, the airline was contemplating operating services to Australia from the southern sector but a final call would be taken after the acquisition of Boeing 787 flights which can fly around 250 passengers, he added. Two of the Dreamliners were scheduled to be acquired in the coming days, he added.

PTI