You're reading: Police bring action against AeroSvit pilots after strike

Investigators of the police department of the Interior Ministry's main department at Kyiv's Boryspil Airport last week brought an action against CJSC AeroSvit crew members on charges of the group action that led to failures in the operation of transportation (Article 293 of the Criminal code).

As Kyiv region’s prosecutor office said, the criminal case was opened following checks on the delay and cancellation of AeroSvit’s flights on August 1, 2011.

The checks revealed that the captains of the airplanes refused to carry out 12 flights allegedly because of safety fears. However, the prosecutors believe that the reason was untrue, as the pilots simultaneously made economic demands of the company’s management.

The prosecutors refer to the Law on Transportation, which bans strikes at transport companies when they are transporting passengers.

Interfax-Ukraine was unable to receive a comment from AeroSvit.

As reported, 40 pilots working for AeroSvit on August 1, 2011, refused to carry out regular flights, demanding that the management repay delayed salaries. The company has estimated its losses from the strike at at least $100,000.

CJSC AeroSvit was established in 1994. Its fleet consists of 16 medium-range Boeing 737s and seven long-haul Boeing 767s. In addition to that, it operates Airbus 320, Airbus 321, Embraer 145, Embraer 195 and An-148 aircraft jointly with partner airlines.