Around 78 Air India Express flights, both international and domestic, faced cancellations as senior crew members unexpectedly reported sick overnight. Sources within the airline informed India Today TV that this sudden sick leave could be linked to discontent among crew members regarding changes to their performance-linked incentive pay following recent restructuring efforts.
The sources further mentioned that crew members aimed to prevent airport chaos by taking this action. However, attempts to communicate with the protesting cabin crew have been unsuccessful so far.
In an earlier statement, an Air India Express spokesperson acknowledged the issue, stating, “A portion of our cabin crew called in sick at the eleventh hour, starting last night, resulting in flight disruptions. While we are in dialogue with the crew to understand the underlying reasons, our teams are actively working to minimize inconvenience to our guests.”
The spokesperson emphasized, “We apologize sincerely to our guests for this unexpected disruption and want to clarify that this situation does not reflect the service standards we aim to maintain. Passengers affected by cancellations will be offered full refunds or the option to reschedule without charge.”
The spokesperson also advised passengers scheduled to fly with Air India Express to check their flight status before heading to the airport.
Meanwhile, sources revealed to PTI news agency on Wednesday that over 200 cabin crew members are believed to have reported sick.
Disruptions were noted at several airports, including Kochi, Calicut, and Bangalore.
Air India Express, now under Tata Group ownership, is undergoing a merger with AIX Connect (formerly AirAsia India) and currently operates 360 daily flights in the summer schedule launched in late March.
Recent discontent among cabin crew members, particularly after the merger process began, has been a growing concern.
In December 2023, the Union Labour Ministry issued a show cause notice to Air India Express over alleged breaches of regulations in disputes involving management and cabin crew. This notice stemmed from issues raised by cabin crew members, including concerns over accommodations during layovers.
The show cause notice followed a letter from the Air India Express Employees Union (AIXEU) to Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, highlighting various grievances, such as contract curtailments affecting certain members.