Air India loses USD19m, cancelled total of 1100 services as strike enters eighth day

Air India stated as many as 221 domestic services were cancelled on 04-May-2011, with only four flights to major metro routes operated, as the pilot strike entered its eighth day. Operations were restricted to trunk routes between the metros (IANS/PTI/Economic Times/Expressbuzz, 04-May-2011). The carrier is operating just 10% of its domestic network. More than 10,000 passengers have been stranded per day as a result of the strike and associated service cancellations. The carrier is suffering losses of INR260 million (USD5.8 million) per day as a result or INR850 million (USD19.1 million). Around 1100 services have so far been cancelled. Some 100 services by Alliance Airport have been operated and the carrier has hired 18 chartered flights (16 domestic and two international) from Kingfisher Airlines and Air Arabia. Air India is also looking to induct more seat capacity on a wet lease basis, through request for proposal (RFP) advertisements to be published on 05-May-2011.