With the government talking tough and the regulator’s deadline to comply with its directive getting nearer, private airlines tonight buckled under pressure and “put on hold” their decision to go on strike on August 18.
In a written statement, the Federation of Indian Airlines said that FIA secretary-general Anil Baijal had been able to impress upon private airlines, including IndiGo, to put on hold their decision to suspend flights on August 18.
Citing “agitated public sentiment”, potential passenger inconvenience and government emphasis on a dialogue, the FIA said “constructive dialogue with Government will lead to redressal of the problems faced by the aviation industry.”
The airlines, set to suffer losses of around Rs 10,000 crore this fiscal, had demanded certain relief measures from government, citing falling passenger traffic and high aviation fuel costs in the country.
