Earlier this month, Air India issued show cause notices to the Pilot-in-Command and four crew members of the flight and derostered them pending investigation.
Citing various aspects, the forum has appealed to the DGCA to "withdraw the harsh punishment and suspension of the PIC". it said.
Thirteen of these crew members have 'tendered an unconditional apology and blamed the union for misleading them', the airline said in a statement in New Delhi.
Air India flights, particularly those destined to Europe, are likely to be affected as the major cabin crew union has threatened to start 'work-to-rule' agitation from midnight to protest the management's alleged failure in resolving wage and career related issues.
The All India Cabin Crew Association, claiming to represent 2,500 cabin crew of Air India, said: "While we bear Capt Gustav Baldauf no ill-will at all, it is tragic that the airline that was built by one of the world's legendary aviators, Bharat Ratna J R D Tata, must today be saved by a foreigner, whose only link to India seems to be Jet Airways."
Air India is set to enhance its in-flight service with a change in ownership from Thursday. This will include more variety in on-board meals, improved in-flight service procedures, and reintroduction of amenities. Non-vegetarian meals are being introduced in the economy class of domestic flights after a gap of nearly four years. Air India is set to enhance its in-flight service with a change in ownership from Thursday. This will include more variety in on-board meals, improved in-flight service procedures, and reintroduction of amenities.
The new owners of Air India will have to retain all the employees of the national carrier for at least one year post which they can offer a VRS. The gratuity, pension fund and post retirement medical benefits of existing and past employees too would be honoured by the new owner, civil aviation secretary Rajiv Bansal said. Tata Sons has emerged as the winning bidder for Air India with the government accepting its Rs 18,000 crore offer to acquire 100 per cent of the debt-laden state-run carrier.
The All India Cabin Crew Association, which claims to represent the 3,600 cabin crew members in the national carrier, however, disfavoured resorting to industrial action. "Air India is on its way to recovery and the summer holiday season is just ahead.
AI also working on proposal to trim pilots' pay 15-20%
The company has dismissed 194 cabin crew and 11 pilots over past year for unauthorised absence and such reasons.