Mumbai, May 01: Walking out of the derecognised Indian pilots guild at least 35 pilots have reported for duty with some of them already operating flights, even as Air India today "rewarded and promoted" five of them to the executive cadre. At least five of the 35 who joined during the past 24 hours have been "promoted", AI sources said, adding some of them who joined have also given an undertaking to the management before being restored for flying duties.
Meanwhile, the Union Labour Minister Sahib Singh Verma announced in delhi that talks between government and striking pilots were "progressing in a positive direction and some breakthrough was expected by midnight".
AI public relations director Jitender Bhargava said "ten pilots are already operating flights and we expect some more to join for duty. We had 25 pilots who reported yesterday and 10 more joined today.”

IPG general secretary Capt Vikrant Sansare admitted that 20 pilots had reported for duty. They were part of a breakaway group who have been in and out of IPG, he added.
Anxious to keep its members together, the IPG has filed a petition in the Mumbai High Court challenging the management's decision to suspend 27 pilots, which it said was per se illegal. The matter is to be heard tomorrow.


Bureau Report