Airlines of India - Air India likely to suspend operations at midnight

Just watching NDTV, reports are "Air India likely to suspend operations at midnight for about 15 days" reports are sketchy..
1) AI is in talks with other airlines
2) All pilots will be de-rostered post mid night (28/09)
http://www.ndtv.com/news/videos/video_live.php?id=LIVE_BG24x7

Sad. What a state of affairs for a supposed national carrier. India Shining indeed. :(

Just watching NDTV, reports are "Air India likely to suspend operations at midnight for about 15 days" reports are sketchy..
1) AI is in talks with other airlines
2) All pilots will be de-rostered post mid night (28/09)
http://www.ndtv.com/news/videos/video_live.php?id=LIVE_BG24x7
Didn't believe this because not much turned up with a google search just now. But found the following news article through google reader (inconsistent, huh?):

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/talks-between-ai-management-pilots-fail/522382/

Indian aviation bosses must have definitely carried over some real bad Karma from past lives ;-) hehe

While surprising, and somewhat shocking, I don't think this should reflect badly on India as a whole. There are many Indian companies that are run extremely well and I'm sure AI will be back in the air shortly. I offer best wishes to the Air India staff that may be adversely impacted by this (and of course the passengers) and hope they get things sorted quickly.

"The booking agents have been told not to accept any bookings from tonight till October 15," a source closed to the developments said in Mumbai.

Wow - glad I didn't book any segments with them for an upcoming trip.

Hopefully this means * will say no f-ing way to AI, and will bring in 9W instead.

Hopefully this means * will say no f-ing way to AI, and will bring in 9W instead.
Heavens be praised if that happens.

This is why I love Flyertalk. I was looking at the ORD-FRA segment as a fun way to finish my RTW but obviously im not getting that flight now...

http://business.rediff.com/report/2009/sep/29/join-duties-patel-to-striking-air-india-pilots.htm

This is why I love Flyertalk. I was looking at the ORD-FRA segment as a fun way to finish my RTW but obviously im not getting that flight now...

Which RTW allows AI? Are you AI would be a fun segment?:)

OMG....I recently booked tickets SIN-MAA return by Air India in November. Does this mean I should cancel them? The only reason I bought them was because they were connecting well with my SQ flight timings and I couldn't find any 9W flights connecting suitably. But I am horrified with the news of AI going on strike. I am struck. The only option I have if i cancel is to connect with SQ. But I didn't find any day time flights between 0800 hrs & 1400hrs flying MAA-SIN except AI.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/business/india-business/With-AI-grounded-fares-may-soar-200/articleshow/5070222.cms

please don't come back.

please don't come back.

Looks like the strike is over and AI is back. :)

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2009-09-30-air-india-strike_N.htm

Looks like the strike is over and AI is back. :)

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2009-09-30-air-india-strike_N.htm
A sad day for Indian aviation :-(

"In June, a cash crunch forced Air India to delay staff payments, and in August the airline outlined a salvage plan to transform itself into more of a budget carrier." ;)

In service terms they'd evolved into a budget carrier ages back...perhaps the record as first-mover belongs to them...

Devastating report on NDTV (not yet on their website) about financial and operational mismanagement resulting in AI's financial position today. Shocking :(

A sad day for Indian aviation :-(Agreed.