Air India pilots protest change in labour laws; flights delayed

Air India's new chief Ashwani Lohani already has a challenge on his hands even before assuming charge.

Pilots of the national carrier have decided to 'go slow', leading to delays in both domestic and international operations.

Some of the pilots have also reported sick, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) sources said, after news reports suggested AI commanders have been removed from the workmen’ category of the Industrial Disputes Act, that excludes them from the protection granted under the act.

Sources said an Air India New Delhi-London flight scheduled to leave from 5 am hasn't departed from the Delhi airport yet.

According to data available from last year, Air India had 650 commanders and the remaining were co-pilots.

Air India has requested the civil aviation ministry to push for an amendment to the Industrial Dispute Act and remove pilots and aircraft engineers from the 'workmen' category under the Act. According to news reports, a notification was issued on Thursday in this regard.

Air India has suggested that senior pilots and engineers perform a supervisory role and can be excluded from definition of workmen.

In 2013, the labour ministry had turned down a similar request, citing that pilots' and engineers' jobs are technical in nature and hence they can not be removed from the workmen category.

Air India