The 800+ pilots of Air India, who belonged to the erstwhile Indian Airlines, called off their
strike on Friday evening after agitating for 10 days.
This decision came after the government agreed to their demands - to reinstate the pilots who were fired or suspended during the strike, to restore recognition to Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) and to probe the charges of irregularites against the Air India management.
It was reportedly decided that a panel headed by a retired Supreme Court Judge would look into the allegations of irregularities on the part of Air India.
The major issues that await addressal are the pilots' demand for compensation of the 75 hours fixed flying hours allowance, and the sacking of Air India's Chief Managing Director Arvind Jhadav.
ICPA President Captain A S Bhinder and the association's general secretary Rishabh Kapur, negotiated with the government for 5 hours, and emerged from the meeting to happily announce that the government had bowed to their demands.
Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi informed the media that the Delhi High Court had scheduled a hearing for May 25th, and that the fate of the contempt notices served to the pilots would be decided on that day.
After numerous failed attempts to break the strike (including the sacking of 9 pilots, issuance of contempt notices by the Delhi High Court and the implementation of a no-work-no-pay policy), the government had no other option but to oblige the striking pilots.