Air India strike: Pilots ready for talks with Ajit Singh

Singh's offer to take back 101 sacked pilots has elicited a positive move from IPG.

Softening its stand,striking Air India pilots today welcomed Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh8217;s offer to hold talks with them,indicating that they are ready to return to work if the 101 sacked pilots are reinstated.

A day after Singh8217;s fresh appeal to them to end their strike which has entered the 17th day,the Indian Pilots Guild IPG sought an appointment with the minister to 8220;clarify issues so that we can bring an end to the current impasse8221;,IPG sources said.

The IPG has been insisting that all the 101 sacked pilots be taken back for bringing an end to their strike.

In a letter to Singh,IPG General Secretary Erjahn Kapadia said,8221;We would be very grateful if you could accommodate us in your busy schedule and grant us an appointment at the earliest.8221;

8220;We wish to reiterate that IPG members are willing,available and open to hold talks with the Hon8217;ble minister and ministry officials to end the stalemate at the earliest,8221; it said appealing to Singh give them 8220;at least a chance to present our case in front of him8221;.

The IPG also claimed that it has requested one of the eight pilots recently trained to fly Boeing 787-Dreamliner to fly to Seattle in the US to take delivery of the first of these aircraft for Air India.

The IPG letter came a day after Singh said the government may consider reinstatement of the pilots on a case-to-case basis if they return to work.

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8220;There is no bar on taking back sacked pilots. Due procedure will be followed and this will be done on a case-to-case basis only if all pilots first join back work. I am ready to talk on all issues only after they join work,not before,8221; Singh had stated.

IPG Joint Secretary Tauseef Mukadam expressed willingness to hold discussions with the Minister but said he had not received any formal offer.

The strike has caused a loss of over Rs 250 crore to Air India so far. The airline has been operating curtailed international operations and announced a contingency plan that would remain effective till June 30.