Air India resumes flight operations across India

MUMBAI/NEW DELHI - Air travellers are breathing a sigh of relief with the resumption of Air India flights across the country on Friday.

Passengers in Mumbai were seen lined outside the airline’s ticketing counter to get their rescheduled flight tickets.

Despite the convenience caused, the passengers here praised the efforts of the Air India staff, which made necessary arrangements for them.

“It is okay now, because the staff is very helpful here in Mumbai. They bought us accommodation; they have given me the next flight available to Lucknow,” said Anuj, a passenger.

Despite the strike ending on Wednesday, the passengers had to suffer another two days, as the airline had to clear the backlog of the flights.

Vibhu Sharma, another passenger at the Mumbai airport, hoped that there would not be any more rescheduling of flights.

“I am travelling from Mumbai to Delhi, but it is to be seen how normal the situation is now. Till now the flight hasn’t been rescheduled. But in Delhi, day before yesterday my flight got rescheduled,” said Vibhu Sharma.

“The day was like hell. My flight was at 9 in the morning but I was only able to reach Mumbai at 9 in the evening. It took almost 12 hours. Let us hope it will be okay today,” he added.

In New Delhi, the airline returned to normalcy with most of the flights departing on time.

The two-day strike by 15,000 employees affected about 13,000 domestic and international passengers, as 140 flights were either diverted or cancelled.

Over 20,000 Air India crewmembers and maintenance engineers had gone on a flash strike protesting against an order issued by the AI management following the plane crash incident at Mangalore.he striking employees were upset over the management’s gag order prohibiting some of its leaders to speak out in public on the Mangalore crash.

The strike was called off after the Delhi High Court declared it to be illegal. (ANI)