Most Domestic Flights Grounded by Air India Pilots’ Strike

Striking pilots representing the Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) shout anti-corruption slogans during a protest to support social activist Anna Hazare in Mumbai on May 1. Flagship carrier Air India's woes deepened as a pilots' strike continued into its fifth day on May 1. (Sajjad Hussain/Getty Images)

A strike by Air India pilots demanding more pay caused 90 percent of all of the airline’s domestic flights to be cancelled on Monday.

The pilots’ strike entered the sixth day, despite a court ruling ordering them to return to work.

Air India on Monday operated only 40 of its 320 scheduled flights according to The Hindu newspaper. The airline has set up a contingency plan to be able to operate 106 of the daily flights until Friday.

The airline’s management has refused to hold talks with the pilots until they continue return to work, according to The Hindu. International flights by the Indian airliner have not been affected.

In addition to higher wages, the pilots are also demanding an investigation into alleged mismanagement of the airline, which, according to the pilots, led to the airline losing over $3.6 billion, reported AP.

Earlier this month, a government investigation found widespread fraud and corruption in India’s aviation industry.