CAIRO, May 6 (Aswat Masriya) - Egypt's flag air carrier Egyptair announced on Wednesday that 224 of its pilots handed in their resignations after making financial and administrative demands, adding that air traffic has not been affected. 

Egyptair's morning flight to Istanbul is the single trip that was affected by the resignations, Sameh Hanafi, the chairman of Egyptair holding told Aswat Masriya over the phone.

The trip was delayed and passengers were notified, he said.

Hanafi said negotiations were held with the pilots prior to their resignations, but the company's financial situation and the circumstances in the country do not allow for pay increases, with the company's losses last year reaching 10 billion Egyptian pounds.  

Hanafi said he is now holding a "crisis" meeting with the operation department to follow up on work flow and flights.   

The head of the pilots union said in a statement that civil aviation authorities decided on 14 working hours per day for pilots, which is straining them. He added that a lawsuit was filed because of the working hours, in which pilots contest that authorities have violated labour laws.