AI pilots to continue strike despite Delhi HC order

Sick pilots, cancelled flights, sackings, an angry aviation minister, and even a court order - the tussle at Air India over who gets to fly dreamliners has become a nightmare and the airline will need more than a slap in the face to wake up from it reports CNBC-TV18's Swati Khandelwal Jain.

The Maharaja is no longer bowing in welcome. He's doubled over in pain. 160 Air India pilots called in sick on Wednesday, adding to the 100 pilots who played truant on Tuesday.
The airline has had to follow up Tuesday's sacking of 10 pilots, the derecognising of the Indian Pilots Guild, and the cancellation of 4 international flights, by sacking 10 more pilots, cancelling over 10 international flights, and moving the Delhi High Court against the strike.
While the Delhi High Court has called the strike illegal, Aviation Minister Ajit Singh is going one step further, and given them an ultimatum.
Ajit Singh, civil aviation minister says, "The government will not spend public money endlessly to revive Air India. If pilots are not interested in Air India's survival, the government will not infuse any money into the airline."
"It was obvious from day one that it was illegal strike, they didn't give any notice and open the Pilots Guild has been saying that tomorrow more pilots will get sick, so it's a planned sickness. Air India management has to see what is the legal position, what action they can take in the light of this judgment and I am sure their position about taking any action will be stronger now. I am sure pilot's can be fired", says Singh.
But even this threat of losing Rs 30,000 crore bailout package has not succeeded in bringing the pilots back.
"The very threat to their career has made them come to this decision. We are ready to talk anywhere at any given place, at any given time. We are ready to go back on 99% of our demands", says Jitendra Awhad, president of Indian Pilots Guild
For these pilots, it's not just about getting priority in training for the soon-to-be-commissioned dreamliners over pilots belonging to the erstwhile Indian Airlines. They say the airline has not kept its promises on promotions or worked on erasing the pay-parity between Air India and Indian Airlines employees. As things stand, the pilots are adamant that the strike will go on till Sunday. Also watch the accompanying video.