Timing of pilots' strike cruel: Passengers' body

The timings of the ongoing strike by Air India pilots was "cruel" as they intentionally chose a long weekend, inconveniencing a large number of passengers, Air Passengers Association of India (APAI) said Monday.

The timings of the ongoing strike by Air India pilots was "cruel" as they intentionally chose a long weekend, inconveniencing a large number of passengers, Air Passengers Association of India (APAI) said on Monday.

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"The timing of the strike is cruel and it is not fair. The Air India executive pilots chose to go on strike seeing the long weekend. Earlier, pilots of Jet Airways struck work during a crucial time," the association's national president Sudhakar Reddy told IANS.

Executive pilots of national carrier Air India went on "mass sick leave" Sep 26, the day the long Dussehra weekend started. At least 50 flights on domestic and international routes have been cancelled till now.

Jet Airways pilots struck work for five days beginning Sep 8, causing hardship to thousands of passengers.

Reddy said: "Executive pilots come under the management cadre who are not expected to strike. They are not members of the Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA)."

He reiterated the association's demand to bring air transport services under the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA).

The Chennai-headquartered APAI has over 4,000 members and chapters in major cities.