New Delhi: Thousands of passengers across the country are left stranded as Air India and Kingfisher Airlines are forced to cancel flights following a strike by pilots. National carrier Air India on Thursday stopped bookings on international sectors and cancelled as many as 21 domestic flights.
The Air India management also sacked nine more pilots, taking the total number of axed pilots to 45.
The management of the national carrier also approached the Supreme Court, seeking contempt action against the striking pilots.
Meanwhile, 72 Kingfisher pilots from north India on Thursday went on flash sick leave, as a result of which, Kingfisher Airlines was forced to cancel 17 flights.
Kingfisher pilots are protesting against non-payment of salaries since December.
Talking about the aviation sector crisis, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh denied that he had ruled out talks with the Air India pilots, asserting that he never said he would not talk to the pilots. Blaming it on the pilots, the minister said, "I never said I will not talk to them. If they are not willing to follow court order, how will they talk to me?"
He further said that the pilots had not left any option for the government.
When asked if the pilots were holding the Air India management to ransom, he said, "I go with your judgement."
Referring to the crisis engulfing private carrier Kingfisher Airlines, the Civil Aviation Minister said that the company had been in trouble for some time.
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