India civil aviation minister, Ajit Singh has once again criticized the striking pilots of state-run Air India for not responding to the calls for returning to work.

"It was not a strike, because no notice was given. Courts ruled strike illegal. It's been 40 days. At first we said, they should come back without pre-conditions. Now, they've disregarded our appeals, and court's order. We've concluded that they are not interested to come back to work," he said on Monday while speaking to mediapersons.

He said that the airline was in a financial mess and as it was turning around and recovering, the pilots went on strike and made the situation worse. He also pointed out that the talks were held at all levels but without any outcome. The airline is now working on a new business plan. The new plans include two new flights to Kuala Lumpur and London and the resumption of flight services to Hong Kong, Osaka and Seoul by August 1. Mr. Singh said that the airline will also induct three Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircrafts this month.

It is believed that all of the 300 pilots of the airline, who have been on the strike for more than a month despite various efforts to end the strike and a court order declaring it illegal, will receive their termination letters soon. Aviation Minister Ajit Singh said that the management will have to decide upon the issue of striking pilots who are refusing to go back to work even after a month of agitation.

More than 400 Air India pilots supporting the Indian Pilots Guild (IPG) are on strike since May 7 over career progression and about 101 pilots have already been terminated.