Flights to Kolkata Cancelled After Strike Call

Flights to and from India's eastern city of Kolkata will be disrupted on Thursday with several airlines cancelling operations in the wake of a nationwide trade union strike call, officials said. The strike has been called by left-wing trade unions to demand jobs and a cut in the prices of essential commodities, and is likely to be observed most strongly in communist-ruled West Bengal, of which Kolkata is the capital. "We have cancelled all our flights from and to Kolkata on Thursday keeping in mind convenience of passengers and our employees," a spokesman for state-carrier Indian said. Indian operates 22 daily flights from Kolkata. Leading private airline Jet Airways, too, said it had canceled its 14 flights from the city. Kolkata Airport director V.K. Monga said contingency plans had been made to help those airlines who decide to operate. Paramilitary troops were seen standing guard outside the airport. The communist-ruled state has seen a spate of strikes in recent weeks, particularly over a recent government decision to acquire prime agricultural land for a small-car project.

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