Air India Express Flight Disruptions
Air India Express Cancels 80+ Flights Due to Cabin Crew Shortage
Air India Express has cancelled over 80 flights and experienced numerous delays as a result of cabin crew members reporting sick, sources revealed on May 8. The cancellations and delays come amidst protests by a section of cabin crew members against alleged mismanagement at the Tata Group-owned airline.
Since May 6 evening, several cabin crew members have called in sick, leading to a shortage of staff and disruptions in flight operations. The airline, currently undergoing a merger with AIX Connect (formerly AirAsia India), had planned to operate 360 daily flights as part of its summer schedule which began in late March.
An Air India Express spokesperson stated that the airline is engaging with the cabin crew members to understand the reasons behind their sickness and apologized for the flight disruptions.
Discontent among a section of the cabin crew has been brewing for some time, particularly after the start of the merger process. It is reported that more than 200 cabin crew members have called in sick to protest against alleged mismanagement.
The shortage of cabin crew has led to the cancellation of over 80 flights since May 7 night, with many more experiencing delays. Flight disruptions have been reported in various airports including Kochi, Calicut, and Bangalore.
According to sources, chaos ensued at some airports due to the sudden cancellations, including flights to overseas destinations.
In response to the situation, the Air India Express spokesperson stated, “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 minimize any inconvenience caused to our guests as a result.”
The airline is offering impacted customers a full refund or complimentary rescheduling to another date.
Last month, a union representing a section of Air India Express cabin crew alleged mismanagement and lack of equality in treatment. The Air India Express Employees Union (AIXEU), which claims to represent around 300 cabin crew members, had raised concerns about the morale of the employees being affected by mismanagement.
This development follows pilot woes experienced by Tata Group full-service carrier Vistara, which recently cut down its capacity temporarily by 10% or 25-30 flights daily.
As part of Tata Group’s consolidation of its airline business, Air India Express and AIX Connect, as well as Vistara, are being merged with Air India.
Passengers affected by the cancellations were advised to check their flight status before heading to the airport.
