Air India reinstates pilots who faced action during stir

New Delhi: Five days after pilots called off their strike, Air India management has finally reinstated its 15 pilots who were suspended or sacked for participating in the 10-day long stir.
Air India management had suspended six and terminated the services of nine pilots, including the leaders of pilot’s body — the Indian Commercial Pilot’s Association (ICPA) and executive pilots — for spearheading the indefinite strike.
Seeing no action on reinstatement of pilots by the management, ICPA General Secretary Rishbah Kapur yesterday wrote to Civil Aviation Minister Valayar Ravi seeking his intervention on the issue.
“We have revoked the suspension of six pilots and reinstated the services of nine terminated pilots last evening and some of them have been even put on duty also,” an Air India official said today.
When asked about the five-day delay, he said various procedures have to be followed before reinstating a terminated pilot.