The Air India pilots on Thursday night decided to withdraw their agitation on the SARS issue and return to duty.

Spokesman of the Indian Pilots' Guild, Captain Mahesh Gulwani, said the decision to withdraw the stir followed three rounds of talks with Union Labour Minister Sahib Singh Verma.

Air India Chief Public Relations Manager Jitendra Bhargava welcomed the IPG's decision to withdraw the strike.

Referring to restoration of normalcy in Air India flight operations, he said: "It will be done as early as possible."