Air India pilots began an indefinite hunger strike in New Delhi on Sunday to highlight their demands over work conditions, promotion and training.

Nearly 400 pilots have been on strike since May 7 but the government has refused to concede to their demands and instead sacked 101 of them.

The pilots' protest centres on a decision by airline to train pilots from Indian Airlines, which merged with state-owned Air India in 2007, to fly the Boeing 787 Dreamliner that is due to go into service later this year.

“We want to end the strike as soon as possible but we also want our demands to be met and our colleagues reinstated,” one of the 11 fasting pilots told reporters.

More striking pilots and their family members are expected to join the fast in the coming days.

Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh recently threatened to sack 280 more striking pilots if they did not end their protests.

Air India, already in deep financial trouble, has had to cancel several international and domestic flights, costing it about 93 million dollars in lost revenue during the strike.  Agencies