Govt & AI pilots hold 3rd round of talks to end stir

New Delhi: Tough negotiations were held today between the Government and striking Air India pilots to sort out some sticky issues even as the domestic operations of the national carrier Air India remained crippled for the tenth consecutive day.
With two rounds of talks failing to end the deadlock, the two sides held a third round today.
Sources said a major sticking point was the demand of the pilots, most of whom belong to the erstwhile Indian Airlines, for compensation of 75 ‘fixed flying hours allowance’, which their erstwhile Air India colleagues get.
The PMO wants the strike to end soon and is understood to have impressed upon the Civil Aviation Ministry to take urgent steps to resolve the impasse. Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar has reviewed the situation arising out of the pilots’ stir.