All Air India pilots have been ordered to end their strike, which has lasted nearly 60 days, in the next 48 hours. The verdict was delivered by the Delhi High Court today, which also said that the 434 pilots on strike must submit letters to the management indicating their willingness to get back to work.
The court has said that the management must “sympathetically consider” reinstating the pilots who have been sacked during the strike for calling in sick or not showing up to work.
The national carrier’s strike has cost the government close to Rs 600 crore.
Pilots are on strike because they believe their seniority and training is not being protected by the management. In 2007, Air India was merged with the domestic national carrier, Indian Airlines. Pilots from the former believe they are senior, and object to training offered to Indian Airlines pilots for the Boeing Dreamliner, for example.
Also read: Despite strike, Air India passenger traffic grows
