Kingfisher pilots threaten strike over pay

A section of Kingfisher pilots have decided not to fly from tonight to protest "backtracking" by the management on its "assurance" of remitting their January salaries from May 9, a move which is likely to compound the woes of fliers already hit by the ongoing stir by AI pilots.

"The management had said that it would start giving January salaries from May 9 onwards. However, it has backtracked on its commitment," Kingfisher sources said.

According to sources, Kingfisher Airline Chairman Vijay Mallya had "assured" the staff in his May 5 communication to them of remitting their January salaries from Wednesday onwards.

In an indication of a showdown with the management, a section of the Delhi-based pilots of the cash-strapped airline today reported sick, while their Mumbai counterparts decided not to fly from tonight, the sources said.

The Kingfisher spokesperson was not available for comment.