Indian carrier call-off strike threat
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The Federation of India Airlines (FIA), which represents India’s seven private carriers, has withdrawn its threat to suspend all flight operations on 18 August, The Times of India has reported. A statement issued by a GoAir spokesperson on behalf of FIA said it decided to “put on hold its decision to suspend flights on August 18… in view of the agitated public sentiment, the potential inconvenience to passengers, and the government’s willingness to enter into dialogue”. The carriers made the threat in a protest against high airport fees and fuel costs - an issue exacerbated by the recent announcement of a INR20 billion (US$4.1 billion) bailout package for national carrier, Air India. Low-cost airline, IndiGo, was the first carrier to pull-out of the planned strike, saying it would continue with its operations and enter into dialogue with the government. SpiceJet then followed suit, leaving the rest, including Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines with little choice but to return to the negotiating table.The Ministry of Civil Aviation had been making plans to Air India to increase operations on 18 August, to make up for the strike action.
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