New Delhi/Mumbai: Softening its stand, striking Air India pilots on Thursday welcomed Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh's offer to hold talks with them, indicating that they are ready to return to work if the 101 sacked pilots are reinstated.
A day after Singh's fresh appeal to them to end their strike which has entered the 17th day, the Indian Pilots Guild (IPG) sought an appointment with the minister to "clarify issues so that we can bring an end to the current impasse", IPG sources said.
The IPG has been insisting that all the 101 sacked pilots be taken back for bringing an end to their strike.
In a letter to Singh, IPG General Secretary Erjahn Kapadia said, "we would be very grateful if you could accommodate us in your busy schedule and grant us an appointment at the earliest."
"We wish to reiterate that IPG members are willing, available and open to hold talks with the Hon'ble minister and ministry officials to end the stalemate at the earliest," it said appealing to Singh give them "at least a chance to present our case in front of him".
The IPG also claimed that it has requested one of the eight pilots recently trained to fly Boeing 787-Dreamliner to fly to Seattle in the US to take delivery of the first of these aircraft for Air India.
The IPG letter came a day after Singh said the government may consider reinstatement of the pilots on a case-to-case basis if they return to work.
"There is no bar on taking back sacked pilots. Due procedure will be followed and this will be done on a case-to -case basis only if all pilots first join back work. I am ready to talk on all issues only after they join work, not before," Singh had stated.
IPG Joint Secretary Tauseef Mukadam expressed willingness to hold discussions with the Minister but said he had not recieved any formal offer.
The strike has caused a loss of over Rs 250 crore to Air India so far. The airline has been operating curtailed international operations and announced a contingency plan that would remain effective till June 30.
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