More than 150 pilots of Air-India have formed a new union following the derecognition of Indian Pilots Guild in April.

"A majority of the pilots of the erstwhile IPG had approached us after they formed A-I Line Pilots Association in the wake of the IPG being derecognised in April," public relations director Jitender Bhargava said in Mumbai on Friday.

Asked whether the new union has been recognised by the management, Bhargava said, "(The pilots have) informed the management that the new association has been registered and it enjoyed majority support. We are looking into it."

The IPG was derecognised on April 28 after reconciliation talks with the labour commissioner failed and nearly 180 of the 200 odd pilots walked out ignoring the directive asking pilots not to operate flights to Far-East and the Persian gulf due to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome and the Iraq war.

The IPG moved the Bombay high court against derecognition and reopening of its office at old airport. The court asked it to submit a representation to the Union minister of civil aviation praying for lifting its derecognition and reopening of IPG office, which had been sealed by the airline after the pilots' agitation, and decide the matter by July 15.

The IPG general secretary Capt V Sansare, when contacted, said they would be making a representation to the minister next week.