A section of Alliance Air pilots on Wednesday called off the two-day strike and resumed work, a senior airline official said.
Alliance Air is a subsidiary of Air India, the national carrier of India. It was established in 1996 with the aim of providing air connectivity to remote and under-served regions of the country. Alliance Air operates a fleet of ATR 72-600 aircraft, which are well-suited for short-haul flights to smaller airports.
Alliance Air operates flights to over 55 destinations across India, including some of the most remote and inaccessible regions of the country. Its focus is on providing affordable, reliable, and safe air travel to those who would otherwise have limited options for transportation.
The airline has a strong commitment to safety, and its pilots and crew undergo rigorous training to ensure the highest standards of safety and professionalism. Alliance Air also places a strong emphasis on customer service, and its staff are trained to provide a warm and hospitable experience to passengers.
In recent years, Alliance Air has expanded its operations and introduced new routes to cater to the growing demand for air travel in India. The airline has also embraced new technologies to enhance the customer experience, such as online booking and check-in, as well as in-flight entertainment and Wi-Fi on select flights.
Around 70-80 pilots went on strike to protest against the non-restoration of salaries to the pre-Covid level and non-payment of allowances, among other issues.
Speaking to PTI, Alliance Air CEO Vineet Sood said that pilots have returned back to work, but negotiations are still going on with the pilots regarding the issues raised by them.
On Tuesday, sources said the airline has issued notices to the striking pilots and has also requested them to join back for duty. At least 70 aircraft were affected due to the strike by the pilots on Tuesday.
State-owned Alliance Air, which was earlier part of the now-privatized Air India, has around 200 pilots and operates about 130 flights per day.
It is germane to note that Alliance Air airline’s pilots had been demanding the restoration of compensation to the pre-Covid level for the past few months. They went on a strike in September 2023 which prompted delays and cancellation of flights.
Separately, pilots of German airline Lufthansa also went on strike over compensation issues during the same time period. The pilots conducted a one-day strike to urge their demands for improved pay and circumstances at Germany’s largest carrier.
The pilots’ salaries were reduced by 60% in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic and till now, the pay has not been completely restored.
Alliance Aviation operates ATR aircraft. It connects 48 destinations within India with 100 departures per day. Pre-Covid, the airline was operating to 62 destinations. The carrier has 18 ATR 72-600 aircraft in service.
