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India pilots strike underway; 91 flights cancelled

Thursday, September 10, 2009 MUMBAI: Jet Airways (India) Ltd. said Thursday it canceled 91 flights, including 21 to overseas destinations, as a standoff between pilots and the airline management entered its third day.The standoff began with pilots taking sick leave to protest the sacking of two of their colleagues in July. Two more pilots were sacked by the airline management Wednesday.The total number of the protesting pilots touched 432 Wednesday out of 760 in the airline.The protesting pilots are part of a recently formed National Aviators Guild, which claims to represent more than 650 pilots.The standoff, which Jet calls a "simulated strike," forced Jet to cancel 174 flights Wednesday to destinations including Bangkok, Dubai, Singapore and Hong Kong. Also, the airline shifted half its 14,000 domestic passengers to other carriers.Jet said the pilots went on sick leave despite a continuing conciliation process with the management.The Bombay High Court Tuesday issued a restraining order preventing the pilots from going on sick leave after Jet moved an application in the court.Jet said the court Wednesday issued a contempt notice to the National Aviators Guild for not complying with the earlier order.Sam Thomas, general secretary of the guild, said the pilots are willing to meet the management but will end their protest only after the sacked pilots are reinstated.
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