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NEW DELHI: Flights of the only state-owned fixed wing aircraft airline — Alliance Air (AA) — have been badly disrupted with a large number of pilots having reported sick. The cash-strapped regional airline, which is going to be sold off soon, has been facing staff discontent due to delayed salary over past several months.
“Almost 100 pilots, representing over 80% of Alliance AI’s total pilot strength, have reported sick. Over 60% departures have been cancelled,” said sources.
Comments and details have been sought from AA and the same are awaited.
Alliance has 21 aircraft in its fleet — 18 ATR-72, two ATR-42 and one HAL Dornier — and has schedule of 179 daily domestic flights. On Monday, however, a majority of these flights have been cancelled with no operation in its main hub of Northeast India.
Alliance Air used to be a subsidiary of Air India. After AI was sold last January, AA remains as the only fixed wing state-owned airline. Pawan Hans, also on the block for a long time, is the state-owned chopper operator. The government plans to divest Alliance Air shortly with Air India and IndiGo being seen as the most likely players to bid for it.
“Almost 100 pilots, representing over 80% of Alliance AI’s total pilot strength, have reported sick. Over 60% departures have been cancelled,” said sources.
Comments and details have been sought from AA and the same are awaited.
Alliance has 21 aircraft in its fleet — 18 ATR-72, two ATR-42 and one HAL Dornier — and has schedule of 179 daily domestic flights. On Monday, however, a majority of these flights have been cancelled with no operation in its main hub of Northeast India.
Alliance Air used to be a subsidiary of Air India. After AI was sold last January, AA remains as the only fixed wing state-owned airline. Pawan Hans, also on the block for a long time, is the state-owned chopper operator. The government plans to divest Alliance Air shortly with Air India and IndiGo being seen as the most likely players to bid for it.
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