State-run, Air India has stopped taking bookings for long haul international flights until the 15th of May due to the ongoing pilot agitation across the country.

The airline said that the flights on Delhi-Toronto, Delhi-Chicago, Mumbai-Newark and Mumbai-Hongkong via Delhi sectors were cancelled as the pilots did not come for work. The management of state-run Air India has toughened its stance and has approached the Delhi high court to restrain its pilots from striking and not reporting for work.

Air India had announced its decision to sack a group of 10 pilots on Tuesday after they went on an agitation against the airline. The airline management also announced that it is derecognizing their union. It also moved to seal its office after 160 failed to join duty, which resulted in the cancellation of five international flights since previous night.

Among the ten pilots who have been sacked by the airline, some are office bearers of the Indian Pilots Guild (IPG), which is heading the protest against the management. The management derecognized the IPG and sealed its offices in Delhi and Mumbai.

An Air India spokesperson said that flights on Delhi-Toronto, Delhi-Chicago, Mumbai-Newark and Mumbai-Hongkong via Delhi sectors were cancelled as the pilots did not come for work.