New Delhi : The Indian aviation sector suffered losses more than 125 crores due to strikes, of which losses of the National Aviation Company of India Limited (NACIL), owners of Air India, alone were Rs 77 crore.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha Minister for Civil Aviation, Praful Patel said the losses suffered by NACIL and other airlines due to strikes were around Rs 127 crores, of which NACIL was around Rs 77 crore.

Executive pilots of NACIL had stopped work through mass sick leave etc. because of the proposed cut in flying allowance, between September 26-30 last year, while the two unions -- All India Aircraft Engineers' Association (AIAEA) and Air Corporations Employees' Union (ACEU) -- went on a flash strike on May 25 this year without giving any notice or reason, he said.

A simulated strike was called by Jet Airways Pilots between September 9-12 last year, informed the minister.

Mr Patel also said private airlines owed Rs 304.65 crore to the Airport Authority of India (AAI).

Of these, Kingfisher Airlines had dues of Rs 184.87, Jet Airways Rs 36.33 crore, Jet Lite Rs 14.66 crore, Indigo Rs 11.19 crore, SpiceJet Rs 11.14 crore, Go Air Rs 5.29 crore, Paramount Rs 4.53 crore and others Rs 36.64 crore.

''Whenever any private airline defaults in making payments, notice for operation on 'Cash-n-Carry' basis is issued besides recovery of dues from security deposits, the minister added.