Air India adds extra flights to ease backlog

But airline is still not accepting new bookings.

DUBAI // Air India has added a handful of additional flights to and from Dubai in an attempt to ease the passenger backlog as its crippling pilots’ strike enters a ninth day.

Four flights will operate between Mumbai and Dubai, and Delhi and Dubai between now and Monday, according to the state-owned Indian carrier’s website.

Between 60 and 90 per cent of the airline's flights have been grounded due to the industrial action by more than 600 pilots.
Flight AI957 will leave Delhi at 11.50pm today, arriving at 1.50am; AI956 will leave Dubai at 1.30am on Sunday, landing in Delhi at 6.20am.

AI956 will also leave Dubai at 3.10am tomorrow, arriving in Mumbai at 7.35am; AI957 will depart from Mumbai at 10.30pm on Saturday and Monday, arriving in Dubai at 11.55pm.

The airline is still not accepting new bookings, however, according to staff at its Dubai office.

“We are not taking any more bookings at the moment in the Middle East or Africa,” said Abhay Patak, Air India’s regional manager.

“We are continuing to monitor the situation on a regular basis and where possible have made alternative arrangements for our customers.”

The strike stems from the 2007 merger that created the company, with the Indian Commercial Pilots Association complaining that its members who were previously employed by India Airways are paid less than their colleagues.

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