‘Mass sick leave’ by staff leads to cancellation of 70 Air India Express flights: Report
PTC News Desk: Approximately 70 international and domestic flights operated by Air India Express were abruptly cancelled due to a mass sick leave taken by senior crew members, as reported by the ANI news agency, citing aviation sources. The cancellations occurred overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday.
Civil Aviation authorities are currently investigating the matter, according to the sources.
In response to the situation, an Air India Express spokesperson issued a statement explaining, “A section of our cabin crew 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 minimise any inconvenience caused to our guests as a result.”
The spokesperson expressed regret to affected passengers, stating, “We sincerely apologise to our guests for this unexpected disruption and emphasise that this situation does not reflect the standard of service we strive to provide. Guests impacted by cancellations will be offered a full refund or complimentary rescheduling to another date.”
Passengers scheduled to fly with Air India Express were advised to check the status of their flights before heading to the airport.
This incident comes amid previous labor disputes within Air India Express, which is now under the ownership of the Tata Group. In December 2023, the Union Labour Ministry issued a show cause notice to the airline over alleged violations related to conflicts between management and cabin crew members. The notice was prompted by concerns raised by cabin crew members, including issues regarding accommodation during layovers.
The issuance of the show cause notice followed earlier grievances raised by the Air India Express Employees Union (AIXEU) to Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, highlighting various concerns, such as the termination of service contracts for certain members.
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