Engineers of the Indian Airlines on Thursday threatened to launch an agitation against the proposed joint venture between the domestic flag carrier and Singapore International Airlines for maintenance, repair and overhauling of aircraft, including those of foreign airlines in India.

Chanchal Chattopadhyay, general secretary of the Indian Airlines Engineers Association, told PTI in Kolkata that the IA engineers and other employees would strongly oppose this "backdoor privatisation" and "we will go for one day non-cooperation in protest against this."

Emphasising that the IA employees across the board would be taking part in the non- cooperation, he said that the date for the same would be announced after consultation with various associations.