By IANS
New Delhi : After three days of chaos at airports across the country and agony for thousands of air travellers, flights of domestic carrier Indian were on schedule Friday, bringing relief to passengers.
"Every flight is on schedule today. A sense of relief prevailed at all airports as all agitating employees have returned to work," said an airline official.
About 12,000 ground staff of the carrier, including security personnel and baggage handlers, had been on strike since Tuesday night, demanding pay hikes and payment of arrears that they claimed were pending since 1997. It was called off late Thursday after the management agreed to meet most of the employees' demands.
All airports returned to normal – check-ins were taking place, cargo handlers were busy, no posters were pasted on ticket counters and waiting lounges were filled with passengers.
"It was a big relief. There was so much of uncertainty since Tuesday evening. I had cancelled my ticket to Bangalore Wednesday but am taking the flight again today," said D. Mukherjee, a passenger at the Delhi airport.
The three-day strike had disrupted air traffic across several cities and left thousands of passengers stranded. Indian ferries 31,000 passengers to 54 destinations in India and 18 overseas daily.
Employee union leaders said all functions were being carried out properly.
"Everything is running smoothly and there is no inconvenience to passengers," Hari Singh of the Air Corporation Employees Union (ACEU) told IANS.
He added that a review meeting was on to revoke the suspension of 27 striking staff.
"A team of our leaders are negotiating with the management over the withdrawal of suspension orders," he added.