Air India urges striking pilots to return to negotiating table

Air India management reportedly sent its striking pilots an SMS urging them to return to the negotiating table (IANS, 02-May-2011). Air India Chairman and Managing Director Arvind Jadhav in his message also reportedly said that allegations of corruption levelled by the Indian Commercial Pilots' Association would be probed. "Risking our airline's survival at this time is criminal. We all condemn corruption in public life and the culprits must be punished," the message reportedly said. The management also sent an SMS message to other employees asking them to persuade striking colleagues to go back to work as the strike threatened the carrier's very survival. "In order to save our airline, I appeal to you to cooperate and persuade our pilot friends to return to work, and discussions - let us start afresh," the message reportedly said.