Air India Express flights were cancelled after about 300 senior cabin crew members reported sick at the last minute and switched off their mobile phones.

New Delhi:

At least 86 Air India Express flights were cancelled after the cabin crew members went on a “mass sick leave”, official sources said on Wednesday. The international and domestic flights were cancelled after about 300 senior cabin crew members reported sick at the last minute and switched off their mobile phones. The Air India Express management is currently trying to reach out to the crew, who are protesting against the new employment term at the Tata Group-owned airline, sources said.

flight delays and cancellations

“A section of our cabin crew has reported sick at the last minute, starting last night, resulting in flight delays and cancellations. While we are engaging with the crew to understand the reasons behind these occurrences, our teams are actively addressing this issue to minimise any inconvenience caused to our guests as a result,” an Air India Express spokesperson said. Read more : https://www.ndtv.com/video/news/news/over-70-air-india-express-flights-cancelled-after-mass-sick-leave-by-crew-782439

the airline said

♦ Guests impacted by cancellations will be offered a full refund or complimentary rescheduling to another date. ♦ “We sincerely apologise to our guests for this unexpected disruption and emphasise that this situation does not reflect the standard of service we strive to provide,” ♦ Several passengers took to their social media accounts and complained about the sudden cancellations of their flights. They said that they had “no information” about the cancellations. ♦ A “very disappointed” passenger on X said he had reached the airport when he was informed that his flight was cancelled. ♦  “We apologise for any inconvenience. Please be informed that your flight has been cancelled due to operational reasons,” Air India Express said in response to his post.

Why Air India Express Crew Is Protesting ?

According to sources, the crew at the Air India Express, a subsidiary of Air India, has alleged that there was a lack of equality in the treatment of the staff after the merger with Tata Group. They claim that some staff members were offered lower job positions despite clearing interviews. The crew has also alleged that the key parts of the compensation package have been modified or removed and that the airline management is shutting down the dissenting voices, sources said. Air India Express has cancelled “scores of flights” due to a shortage of cabin crew members as a section of them are reporting sick to protest against alleged mismanagement at the Tata Group-owned airline, according to sources. Discontent has been brewing among a section of the cabin crew at the low-cost carrier for some time now, especially after the start of the process of merger of AIX Connect, formerly AirAsia India, with itself. The sources on Wednesday said several cabin crew members started reporting sick since Monday evening and as there are not enough cabin crew members, “scores of flights” have been cancelled at various airports, including Kochi, Calicut and Bangalore. Late last month, a union representing a section of the Air India Express cabin crew alleged that the airline is being mismanaged and there is a lack of equality in the treatment of the staff. Air India Express Employees Union (AIXEU), a registered union, which claims to represent around 300 cabin crew members, mostly seniors, had also alleged that mismanagement of the affairs has affected the morale of the employees.

The airline has issued a statement acknowledging the issue: “A section of our cabin crew has reported sick at the last minute, starting last night, resulting in flight delays and cancellations. While we are engaging with the crew to understand the reasons behind these occurrences, our teams are actively addressing this issue to minimise any inconvenience caused to our guests as a result. We sincerely apologise to our guests for this unexpected disruption and emphasise that this situation does no ..