Over 80 flights operated by Air India Express have been cancelled since Tuesday evening, as a group of senior cabin crew members have reported sick in protest against what they claim to be mismanagement within the airline, now owned by the Tata Group. This has resulted in hundreds of passengers being stranded at various airports across the country. Predominantly passengers scheduled for Gulf nation flights from airports in Kerala have been affected by the sudden cancellations.
Numerous passengers have expressed frustration, stating that they were only informed about the cancellations after completing security checks. Reports suggest that more than 200 cabin crew members called in sick as a form of protest against the alleged mismanagement, leading to the shortage of crew and subsequent flight disruptions.
Flight cancellations and delays have occurred at several airports including Kochi, Calicut, Delhi, and Bengaluru. The airline has acknowledged the issue and is in communication with the cabin crew to understand the reasons behind their sick reports. They have also issued apologies for the inconvenience caused to passengers.
This discontent among the cabin crew has been brewing for some time, particularly since the initiation of the merger process with AIX Connect, formerly AirAsia India. Chaos ensued at some airports due to the abrupt cancellation of flights, even those bound for overseas destinations.
Air India Express, which operates 360 daily flights during the summer schedule, expressed regret for the disruptions and assured affected customers of full refunds or complimentary rescheduling. Last month, a union representing a section of the cabin crew had alleged mismanagement and unequal treatment of staff within the airline.
This disruption has happened at a time when another Tata Group-owned carrier, Vistara, is grappling with pilot issues and had to cut its capacity because of staff shortage. The passengers have expressed concerns over no alternative arrangements having been made, with some even facing the prospect of job loss due to delayed travel.
The airline has requested passengers to check the status of their flights before coming to the airport. As part of consolidating its airline business, the Tata Group is to merge Air India Express and AIX Connect, alongside Vistara, with Air India.
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