Threatened by Air India's decision to hire more pilots, striking Air India Pilots today today questioned the move saying the cash-strapped national carrier would not be able to afford paying high salaries to the new recruits. 

"We have serious doubts about the Civil Aviation Ministry's move (to hire pilots). Whom do they want to benefit? At a time when the company is under severe financial crunch, can these new pilots be afforded at a salary which is double of ours?" Capt Anil Kumar Rao, Joint Secretary of the Indian Pilots Guild (IPG) that is spearheading the 30-day long agitation, said here.