This Article is From Nov 17, 2009

Indian Airlines pilots on protest path once again

Mumbai: Pilots of the erstwhile Indian Airlines staged a silent protest march against the non-payment of productivity-linked allowances at Mumbai airport.

Their union, the Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA), has threatened to go on a strike from November 24, if their dues are not paid by the management. (Read: Pilots threaten strike from Nov 24)

The ICPA is a non-executive pilots' body of erstwhile Indian Airlines pilots.

Pilots are protesting the non-payment of productivity-linked allowances, which could be about 75 per cent of a pilot's salary.

The pilots' association claims membership of 800 odd pilots and says that they have not been paid their allowances since September.

As employees threaten strike the management is almost pleading not to resort to such action.

The airline has claimed that by January next year it expects to get about Rs 400 crore as the first installment of the Rs 2,000 crore equity from the government.

In a statement the airline said, "Despite all the odds, the airline's performance has improved. Its market share has gone up from 16.6 per cent in August to 18.6 per cent last month."

It further expects to do better during December, January and February. The airline claims that they have already made substantial bookings for these months.

Air India, the national carrier that was born 77 years ago, when JRD Tata flew on a single-engined De Havilland from Karachi to Bombay, is headed for a dangerous crash landing. (Read: The Air India mess)

.