No picking and choosing of crew, Air India tells pilots

Air India (AI) has finally decided to take strict action against pilots who refuse to operate flights with particular crew members.

Air India (AI) has finally decided to take strict action against pilots who refuse to operate flights with particular crew members.

Air India has ordered that strict action should be taken against pilots who refuse to fly with a particular crew. (Virendra Singh Gosain/HT File Photo)

Ashwani Lohani, chairman and managing director (CMD), AI, has ordered that strict action should be taken against pilots who refuse to fly with a particular crew, sources said.

The order looks to tackle the problem of “directives” issued by pilot unions to its members to not to fly with a particular individual, which has resulted in disruptions in the past and made crew scheduling a nightmarish exercise at times for the airline.

There is currently a directive by the union of pilots belonging to the erstwhile Indian Airlines to its members, urging them not to fly with a senior captain who was an officer on special duty to a former AI CMD.

“This happens in no other airline. It was high time that the management took action,” a senior official said. AI has also warned pilots of strict action if they refuse to carry out assigned duties or insist on flying with a particular crew.