Panaji: Following mass sick leave taken by a section of its cabin crew, Air India Express has cancelled a significant number of flights since May 7. The government has intervened, urging the airline to swiftly address the issues with its employees.
On Wednesday alone, 86 flights were cancelled by Air India Express, prompting the airline to advise passengers to check their flight status before heading to the airport. Some passengers in Goa also faced difficulties after their flights with the airline were cancelled. The airline, which operates nearly 360 flights daily, has been instructed by the Ministry of Civil Aviation to provide a report on the flight cancellations and to resolve the underlying issues promptly.
In response to the situation, an Air India Express spokesperson stated that a portion of the cabin crew reported sick at the last minute, causing delays and cancellations. The airline is actively engaging with the crew to understand the reasons behind these incidents and is working to minimize inconvenience to passengers.
The disruptions began on Tuesday after a long-standing dispute between the cabin crew and the airline management reached a critical point. The senior cabin crew members are dissatisfied with various measures implemented since Air India Express merged with Air Asia India to create the low-cost segment of the Air India Group after privatization in 2022. Complaints include the withdrawal of allowances for international flights, discrimination in internal postings, terminations, and contract revisions reducing tenure from five years to one year. Additionally, crew members are unhappy about shared accommodation being offered at hotels during layovers instead of individual accommodations as previously provided.
