Mumbai: Both Air-India (AI) and Indian Airlines (IA) have decided to maintain their
services to Kuwait despite directives from the respective pilot unions not to
operate flights in and out of the gulf country.
More than three weeks into the war in the Gulf, the Indian Commercial Pilots
Association of IA issued the directive to its line pilots on April 7, while the
Indian Pilots Guild (IPG) of AI on April 8, asked its members not to operate
services in and out of Kuwait.
Executive pilots of both the airlines are now operating six and seven flights a week
respectively.
Air India, in a statement on April 9 said it would continue to operate its services
to Kuwait notwithstanding the directive of the IPG.
The decision to maintain services comes out of AI's commitment, both as a national
carrier and out of obligation to the large Indians settled in Kuwait who have
traditionally been patronising its services, the statement said.
The IPG decision has baffled the management "as the worst in the Iraq war is now
over" and the air space has been consistently regarded as safe by International
Civil Aviation Organisations, the statement said.
Further, even global insurance companies, which impose enhanced premium whenever
there is a slight risk due to war and other incidents have dropped the decision to
levy higher premium in view of risk element being non-existent in operation of
flights, it said.
PTI
