M A I N   N E W S

A-I suspends 12 pilots

Mumbai, April 26
Taking a tough stand, the government today decided to place under suspension 12 Air India (A-I) pilots after the Indian Pilots Guild (IPG) refused to withdraw the directive for operating in SARS-affected areas.

“We have no other option but to adopt this measure as we cannot allow any employee to hold the airline and the public to ransom”, Air India director, public relations, Mr Jitendra Bhargava, told mediapersons here tonight.

More than 50 pilots had been served letters for their refusal to operate flights to Singapore, Hong Kong and Kuwait and would face disciplinary action, Mr Bhargava said. He said Air India had decided to put into operation the contingency plan, whereby A310 Airbus services might be curtailed, but operations of Boeing 747-400, 747-300, and 747-200 would be operated.

NEW DELHI: The government tonight announced plans to hire retired pilots on contract as part of a contingency plan to deal with the situation. This was stated by Civil Aviation Minister Shahnawaz Hussain. PTI