AI pilots threaten to strike over allowances

Air India has been facing cash paucity since last year

Mumbai, Aug. 17: A section of Air India pilots have threatened to stop operations if their flying allowance dues are not paid immediately.

Alleging that while the salaries and perks of other employees are paid in full albeit with a delay, the same for the pilots and cabin crew are “ignored”, despite the fact that flying allowances of these two licenced categories of employees form a major chunk of their salaries.

“We would like to inform you if the flying allowance is not paid immediately, we may not be available for flying duties,” the Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) said in a communication to Air India’s director of finance on Friday.

ICPA represent over 700 pilots of the airline's Airbus 320 family fleet.

“Since the company has paid the salary, the pilots will report to the office for any office duty of their expertise other than flying duties,” it added.

According to a source, flying allowance are paid after two months.

“As a rule, flying allowances for the month of June should have been paid on August 1, but they remain unpaid even till today,” the source said.

ICPA warned the Air India management that it expect a positive confirmation on the matter, “failing which we will be forced to direct our members not to report for flying duties and only management should be held responsible in case of any disruption of flights”.

Significantly, the lossmaking carrier has been facing cash paucity since the government stopped funding the airline following its decision to privatise it last year.