The Indian Commercial Pilots Association said the services of employees were terminated ‘unceremoniously’ and without proper procedure.
National carrier Air India has sacked 48 pilots, citing financial constraints due to the coronavirus crisis, The Hindu reported on Friday. The termination letters were given to the pilots on Thursday evening, weeks after the airline promised on Twitter that no employees would be laid off. “You would appreciate that the company is already severely strained financially,” the letter to the pilots, accessed by the newspaper, said. “Further, the global pandemic Covid-19 has resulted in extraordinary and exceptional circumstances by gravely reducing the commercial functioning of the company leading to redundancies. The company is incurring huge net losses and doesn’t have the financial ability to pay.” The letter said their termination comes into effect immediately. “You will stand released from the services of the company w.e.f close of office of August 13,” it added. Some of these pilots had resigned last year, but it was withdrawn within the six months notice period time as per rules. The letter informed the employees that the earlier resignation is being accepted now.
