The pilots of erstwhile Air India have toughened their stand against the AI management and the Aviation Ministry by launching a hunger protest in Mumbai and Delhi.
The agitation has now gone on for over 50 days. Out of 20 Boeing 777s only 6 are currently flying,while 14 are grounded at Delhi airport.
Maintenance costs on them is increasing. Besides, the monthly payment for each Boeing 777 is approximately `5.5 crore (EMI +Insurance + Parking Charges). Fourteen Boeing 777s on ground amounts a loss of `77 crore per month. AI has lost `154 crore on account of monthly payments to be made towards grounded airplanes.
As a result of this stalemate, Air India (International) is able to sell only approximately 1,000 seats per day. In other words, in the last 50 days, Air India (International) has lost 75% market share which has resulted in a loss of over `500 crore revenue.
“An issue that could have been resolved within 3-4 days, has dragged on for 50 days because the AI management has refused to talk to the pilots. The failure to resolve a minor labour issue is proof of the incompetence of the Industrial Relations Department of AI,” the pilots alleged.