78 Air India Express flights cancelled after staff suddenly call in sick
In Short
- Crew suspected to be unhappy with salary structure
- Attempts to reach protesting crew unsuccessful
- Airline apologises, offers refunds or rescheduling
At least 78 international and domestic flights operated by Air India Express were abruptly cancelled due to the sudden sick leave taken by senior crew members, leaving passengers stranded and causing significant disruptions.
According to sources within the airline, the crew members reportedly called in sick overnight, prompting suspicions that their actions were linked to discontent over the performance-linked incentive component of their salaries following recent revamp and restructuring efforts.
The airline sources also indicated that the crew members may have opted for sick leave to prevent potential chaos and confusion at airports due to understaffing or dissatisfaction with the current work conditions.
Despite efforts to establish communication with the protesting cabin crew members, no breakthrough has been achieved thus far.
In an official statement addressing the situation, an Air India Express spokesperson acknowledged the flight delays and cancellations resulting from the sudden sick leave taken by a section of the cabin crew.
While the airline is actively engaging with the affected crew members to ascertain the underlying reasons for their actions, measures are being implemented to minimize inconvenience to passengers.
Expressing regret for the unexpected disruption, the spokesperson assured affected passengers of full refunds or complimentary rescheduling to mitigate the inconvenience caused.
Passengers scheduled to fly with Air India Express were advised to check the status of their flights before heading to the airport to avoid further inconvenience.
Meanwhile, reports from PTI news agency suggested that the number of cabin crew members reporting sick could exceed 200, exacerbating flight disruptions at various airports including Kochi, Calicut, and Bangalore.
The incident occurred during the summer schedule, which commenced at the end of March, with the airline aiming to operate 360 daily flights.
Tensions have been simmering among cabin crew members at the low-cost carrier, particularly following the initiation of the merger process involving AIX Connect (formerly AirAsia India).
The airline, now under the ownership of the Tata Group, had previously received a show cause notice from the Union Labour Ministry in December 2023 over alleged violations related to disputes between management and cabin crew members.
The notice stemmed from concerns raised by cabin crew members, including issues surrounding accommodation during layovers and service contract curtailment, as highlighted in correspondence from the Air India Express Employees Union to Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia.