The full report on what Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh said today.

Addressing a press conference on issues facing Air India, Singh said that the Air India management is planning to hire around 90 more pilots over the next six months, not only for its international operations, but also for its domestic flights.

He further said the airline would also start new routes to Hong Kong, Seoul and Osaka in August. Commenting on the pilots who are on strike, Singh said: "It seems pilots have decided not to come back, they have condemned the Dharmadhikari report, which is part of turnaround plan. If they reject that, no point in their coming back."

"Our stand from Day One has been, that it has been declared illegal by the High Court, they haven''t even followed union rules of giving notice of strike.  I have said in Parliament there will be no victimisation, but they are not willing," he said.

"If they want to come back, they are welcome but there are no pre-conditions," he added. 

Singh had earlier announced a new pay and career progression norms for employees of erstwhile Indian Airlines and Air India to ensure parity in the merged national carrier.

Presenting the Justice CS Dharmadhikari Committee report on the problems arising out of the merger of national carriers, Singh had said after the committee's recommendations are implemented, pay scales, work hours, promotions for Air India and Indian Airlines will be similar.