SARS scare: A-I cancels 37 Gulf flights

Monday, 28 April 2003, 19:30 IST
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A day after it suspended 12 pilots for refusing to fly because of the SARS outbreak, the airline acted against another 15, even as it was forced to cancel 37 flights to the Gulf because of the stir.

NEW DELHI: Air-India has so far suspended 27 pilots who have refused to fly unless the cabin crews assigned to them were certified to be SARS-free. Individual enquiries would be conducted against the pilots, airline sources said. Some 56 pilots belonging to the Indian Pilot's Guild were facing disciplinary action, the sources said. The flights cancelled to the Gulf - some 45 percent of those Air-India operates to the region, would remain suspended till the end of the month, the sources added. Most of the flights cancelled are to Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Operations to Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia have been generally unaffected. Domestic carrier Indian Airlines has also chipped in by operating additional flights to the Gulf. Passengers booked on Air-India would also be accommodated on other Gulf carriers, airline sources said.
Source: IANS

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