This refers to the news report “AI pilots call off strike” (May 7). It is sad that the 10-day strike by Air India pilots caused the airline an estimated revenue loss of Rs 20 crore every day. The situation worsened when the airline management derecognised the Indian Commercial Pilots Association soon after the pilots went on strike. It is not illegitimate to demand pay parity.
The Delhi High Court had asked the striking pilots to call off the strike immediately and directed the management to consider their demands. If both the management and the pilots had obeyed the high court directive, a good deal of revenue could have been saved without evoking the charge of contempt of court. Moreover, the private airlines cashed in on the situation and raised fares up to 50 per cent. In the end, it was the passengers who had to suffer.
K V Seetharamaiah, Hasan (Karnataka)
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