Air India pilots have lost patience with airline management and are now threatening to withdraw their labour over non-payment of flight duty allowances.
The struggling national flag carrier has delayed salaries for several months and is awaiting another state funded cash injection from the government.
Air India paid salaries last week but not flying allowances which can make up 70% of pilots’ take-home pay.
In a letter to AI chairman Pradeep Singh Kharola, the Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association demanded allowances are paid immediately or pilots will refuse to fly.
The ICPA represents more than 700 Air India pilots.
"In our previous written communication, we have requested the management to communicate the delay in payments, if any, and not to separate flying allowance from salary. We would like to inform you if the flying allowance is not paid immediately, we may not be available to the company for flying duties," the letter said.
The union said pilots will report for ‘any office duty of our expertise other than flying duties.’
"We expect a positive confirmation on the subject matter failing which we will be forced to direct our members not to report for flying duties and only management should be held responsible in case of any disruption of flights."
The Air India board met before the weekend to discuss the disbursement of an expected short-term financial package from the government.
