Though the government has brought every state onboard for allowing domestic flight operations, Air India pilot unions IPG and ICPA threatened they might not be able to extend support to the airline’s ‘normal operations’ and in the matter of flight duty and time limitations (FDTL). They have alleged that financial and other issues of employees remain unresolved. 

These unions representing pilots operating Boeing and Airbus aircraft of the airline in a joint letter to the personnel department sought to know the outcome of the various cost-cutting measures that Air India initiated in March to deal with its precarious finances.

The IPG and ICPA letter comes ahead of the resumption of commercial passenger services on domestic routes from May 25, which were suspended about two months ago along with international services in the wake of COVID-19 and subsequent lockdown imposed by the government on March 25.

Air India had announced a host of measures to reduce costs, including withdrawing special allowances for pilots and other facilities for its officials, a 10 percent deduction in allowances (excluding basic pay, HRA and variable dearness allowance) in respect of all employees, except cabin crew, for a period of three months effective from March.