New Delhi, February 12
A large number of passengers were put to inconvenience after Air Sahara cancelled 10 morning flights from Delhi. The airlines was forced to cancel and delay flights across the country after 20 senior pilots proceeded on mass casual leave.
Sources in Air Sahara however said that their ground staff accommodated passengers in Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines. Executive pilots were put on flying duty to deal with the crises.
While most passengers were informed of the cancellation of flights 24 hours in advance, those who bought their tickets from travel agents remained stranded at the IGI Airport here.
The pilots are agitating over the 500 million-US-dollar takeover of the airlines by Jet Airways as their salaries and perks would be on the lower side than that of the acquired airline. The pilots have voiced their apprehensions over
a possible cut in salaries and perks in their talks with the management.
It is learnt that the pilots have proceeded on mass leave to register their protest over denial of promised compensation. They have also pointed out that the Aeronautical Information Circular of the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation makes it mandatory for pilots to give six months notice for resignation. This condition has been termed as discriminatory by the pilots.
Air Sahara offers 140 daily flights and has a fleet comprising 19
classic and new generation Boeings 300s, 400s, 700s and 800s, seven CRJ-200 regional jets and B767s.
