Air India Express Cancels Flights Amid Cabin Crew Protests

Air India Express, a subsidiary of the Tata Group, has faced disruptions as it cancelled over 100 flights due to cabin crew members calling in sick in protest of alleged mismanagement within the airline.

The flight cancellations, affecting around 15,000 travelers, primarily impacted the airline’s Gulf routes, prompting a temporary reduction in flight operations until May 13, with a usual schedule of about 360 flights daily covering domestic and international routes, as reported by The Economic Times.

The airline issued termination letters to approximately 25 cabin crew members and set an ultimatum for others to return to duty following the protest, with over 90 flights cancelled as a result.

Amid non-availability of cabin crew, Air India Express further cancelled at least 60 flights for the day, pushing over 200 crew members to call in sick starting Tuesday, citing discontent over alleged mismanagement.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has called for a detailed report from Air India Express and emphasized swift resolutions to the ongoing issues, urging airport operators to assist affected passengers.

Flight disruptions were spread across several airports including Kochi, Calicut, Delhi, and Bengaluru, impacting both domestic and international flights, particularly those bound for Gulf nations, with Delhi alone facing 14 cancellations in a 12-hour window.

Expressing regret for the inconvenience caused, a spokesperson from Air India Express assured efforts to minimize disruptions but advised passengers to check flight statuses before traveling.

Unrest among a faction of cabin crew members surfaced amid merger talks with AIX Connect, leading to protests over disparities and mismanagement allegations, as Tata Group plans further airline integrations.

CEO Aloke Singh highlighted disruptions from the sick calls, citing operational difficulties resulting in schedule cutbacks and emphasizing the need to stabilize crew availability for continued services.