SC directs Air India to get on the table with pilots

MUMBAI: A day after Air India management filed a contempt petition against the striking pilots for not resuming work as directed by the Delhi High Court, The Apex court refused to entertain the petition on Friday and directed Air India management and the ministry to sit with the pilots and resolve the matter.

The court said that the matter is an internal one and it should be resolved between the management and the pilots. The Supreme Court also said that it does not see any contempt of court as Air India management observed.

Air India in the meantime cancelled 30 of its 50 international flights on Friday leaving passengers in a lurch as peak season summer holiday rush did not allow the airline to transfer passengers on other international airlines. Air India however rescheduled some of its Gulf route flights.

At least 400 pilots belonging to the now dissolved pilots union of the Indian Pilots' Guild or IPG refused to report for work sending the schedule of the airline in a tizzy for the fourth day in a row.