"There is no question of sacking;employees will be protected," Patel said. Patel, however, said it was time for everyone -- management and staff -- to introspect.
"It is a tough time and we have to cooperate..we will have to go through financial and organisational restructuring to bring back the airlines on a healthy track," Patel said.
He was speaking to reporters on his way to Chennai airport, where he had gone to inaugurate a desalination plant by Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited and also the Manali-Chennai Aviation Turbine Fuel Pipeline by Indian Oil Corporation.
On wage restructuring, a decision on which is pending, Patel said "we have sat and agreed on a formula for wages to be paid in a particular fashion," but did not elaborate.
On the two-hour walkout by Air India employees on Friday, which the management had declared illegal, to protest delayed payment in June salary, he said it was a token strike and flight operations were not affected.