Updated on Friday, July 03, 2009, 09:10 IST

Mumbai, July 03: Air Corporation Employees Union (ACEU) has demanded a CBI probe into the malady afflicting Air India and fix responsibility on those responsible for the air-carrier's financial woes.

"We want a CBI probe into Air India's affairs to fix responsibility on those who have brought the national carrier to this level," the union's General Secretary, J B Kadian, said here today.

The ACEU is also planning to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to discuss with him the problems confronting AI, Kadian said.

Air India's unions have been on a warpath with its management since last month after the latter announced that it would delay June salaries by the middle of July.

A section of the air-carrier's unions staged a two-hour demonstration today in protest against delay in payment of salaries.

Bureau Report

But employees are unimpressed, and maintain that the management had backtracked from its June 29 commitment that salaries would be paid July 3.

"If they (airline management) have delayed salary by a day or two, why don't they give this in writing?" asked ACEU general secretary J.B. Kadian.

Various unions have also demanded a meeting with the management.

Air India is in a financial mess having incurred a loss of Rs.4,000 crore last fiscal, forcing Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel to approach Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for a Rs.10,000-crore (about $2-billion) bailout package for the beleaguered carrier.

The prime minister has in turn suggested that National Aviation Co, which owns Air India, undertake cost-cutting measures to improve its financial condition.

IANS