Date:20/04/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/04/20/stories/2003042006950900.htm

National

AI suspends Singapore flights

By Our Special Correspondent

MUMBAI April 19. Effective Monday, Air India will temporarily suspend its flights to Singapore from New Delhi and Hyderabad in view of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak and the decision of the Indian Pilots Guild (IPG) not to operate to that destination, the airline has said.

This would affect flights to Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta as well, since they are extended from Singapore. ssAvailability of executive pilots is a major constraint in view of the IPG decision not to fly to these Asian destinations due to SARS, and also Kuwait due to the Iraqi war.

In a bid to ease fears, AI had earlier planned to fly to Hong Kong without overnight stopovers for the crew to minimise possible contact with SARS and carry two sets of crew, but it had not moved the IPG.