Air India Express fires 30 crew members for participating in mass sick leave

PTC News Desk: Air India Express, owned by the Tata Group, has terminated the services of senior cabin crew members who participated in a mass sick leave without prior notice. This action resulted in the cancellation of over 100 flights since Tuesday night, impacting approximately 15,000 passengers.

In an email sent to the concerned crew members, the airline cited the mass sick leave as evidence of a premeditated and coordinated absence from work without valid justification. According to the airline, this action not only contravened applicable laws but also violated the Air India Express Limited Employees’ Service Rules.

The statement explained that the crew members were scheduled for a flight on Tuesday but informed the scheduling team at the last minute that they were unwell. However, a significant number of other cabin crew members also reported sick around the same time, indicating a planned absence from work without reasonable cause.

The resulting flight cancellations disrupted the entire schedule and caused significant inconvenience to passengers. As a consequence of their actions, the terminated crew members are no longer considered employees and forfeit access to company resources and benefits.

The decision to terminate the crew members’ services follows Air India Express CEO Aloke Singh’s announcement of flight service curtailments until May 13 due to the cabin crew crisis. The Union Ministry of Civil Aviation has requested a detailed report from the airline regarding flight delays and cancellations, urging swift action to address the crisis.

The flight disruptions occurred from Tuesday night to Wednesday, prompting chaos at several airports. Passengers expressed frustration over the lack of prior notification regarding flight cancellations.

In Delhi, at least 16 Air India Express flights were canceled on Wednesday, with disruptions also reported in Bengaluru. In Kerala, multiple flights from all four airports—Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Kannur, and Kozhikode—were canceled.

The airline has since announced arrangements for alternative flights for affected passengers and released a revised flight schedule. Passengers are advised to check the status of their flights before heading to the airport amidst the disruptions.