MINISTER OF OVERSEAS INDIAN AFFAIRS & MINISTER OF CIVIL AVIATION
(SHRI VAYALAR RAVI)
(a),(b),(c),(d),(e) and (f): A statement is laid on the
Table of the House.
STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a),(b),(c),(d),(e) and (f) OF
LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.52 TO BE ANSWERED ON
03.08.2011 REGARDING STRIKE BY AI PILOTS TABLED BY SHRI
BHUDEO CHOUDHARY AND PROF. (DR.) RANJAN PRASAD YADAV, MPs.
(a) and (b): Yes, Madam. The Indian Commercial Pilots
Association (ICPA) went on strike during 27.04.2011 to
06.05.2011 which led to disruption of large number of
flights. The ICPA has raised several demands including
parity in working conditions and emoluments between
erstwhile Indian Airlines and erstwhile Air India Pilots,
payment of fixed flying hours and fixed subsistence
Allowance payable in dollars every month. The Pilots have
not gone on strike on any other occasions in the last three
years except the one mentioned above. However, the
Executive Pilots of Air India had reported sick in a
concerted manner from 26.09.2009 till late evening of
30.09.2009.
(c): The details of the flights cancelled/rescheduled is
Annexed. The estimated revenue loss suffered by Air India
on account of the strike is around Rs.200 crores.
(d): Air India terminated 6 pilots and 3 Executive Pilots.
Apart from this, 7 pilots were suspended and also the union
of ICPA de-recognized. No salary has been paid to the
pilots for strike period.
(e) and (f): To resolve the disparities to the HR issues
like level mapping, compensation harmonization etc. for all
employees including pilots, Government has appointed a
committee headed by Justice D.M. Dharmadhikari, a retired
Judge of Supreme Court to independently and impartially look
into all the HR integration issues, including pay parity,
working conditions, seniority etc. The Committee has
already started examination of issues and has also held
meetings with the Pilots Association among others.
Annexure
Details of flights cancelled/rescheduled during the strike
by Air India Pilots
Date Scheduled Operated Cancelled
27.04.2011 216 154 62
28.04.2011 102 51 51
29.04.2011 60 51 09
30.04.2011 57 41 16
01.05.2011 49 49 0
02.05.2011 42 42 0
03.05.2011 35 35 0
04.05.2011 51 45 6
05.05.2011 40 38 2
06.05.2011 48 47 1
07.05.2011 73 73 0
773 147
During the initial period, flights were cancelled due to
strike.
However, with effect from April 28, 2011, flights were
curtailed to minimal operation.
Air India operates an average of approx. 220 flights per
day.
During the strike period, i.e. from April, 27- May 07, 2011,
out of the total of 2420 flights, Air India could operate
only 773 flights which is about 32% of the normal operations
