India's Jet Airways has cancelled 31 flights today owing to a continued labour dispute with its pilots.
Eight of today's cancellations are on international routes to Southeast Asia, while 24 are on domestic routes.
Today's cancellations come after 186 flights were cancelled yesterday, says Jet. Of yesterday's cancellations, 32 were on international routes and 154 were domestic services.
The carrier says that 40% of its 760 pilots called in sick yesterday. They are protesting Jet's alleged sacking of two pilots for joining the National Aviators Guild, a newly established union.
"This significant increase in the percentage of pilots reporting sick and disrupting flights is regarded by the airline as simulated strike," says Jet.
The strike has stranded thousands of travelers in airports across India.
Highlighting the urgency of the situation, Indian media reports suggest Jet Airways chairman Naresh Goyal met civil aviation secretary Madhavan Nambiar yesterday morning to discuss the strike.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
