Amidst a significant upheaval in flight operations, over 75 international and domestic flights operated by Air India Express encountered cancellations or delays on Wednesday due to the unexpected absence of senior crew members.
This scenario has prompted apprehension within the Ministry of Civil Aviation, which is actively monitoring the unfolding events. Air India Express grappled with substantial disruptions in its flight schedules on Wednesday, with approximately 75 flights, predominantly bound for international destinations, facing cancellations or delays due to senior crew members reporting sick.
“A portion of our cabin crew notified us of their illness at the eleventh hour, commencing from last night, resulting in the disruption of flight schedules. While we are in dialogue with the crew to comprehend the underlying causes of these occurrences, our teams are diligently addressing this issue to mitigate any inconvenience experienced by our passengers,” stated an Air India Express spokesperson on Wednesday.
“For passengers affected by cancellations, we are extending the option of a full refund or complimentary rescheduling to an alternative date. We urge passengers traveling with us today to verify the status of their flights before journeying to the airport,” the spokesperson emphasized.
The sudden dearth of crew members necessitated the grounding of flights, impacting both domestic and international routes. Authorities in Civil Aviation are investigating the matter. Sources revealed that certain senior crew members deactivated their mobile devices just before flight operations, citing health concerns. With no substitute personnel available, flight cancellations became unavoidable.
Addressing the situation, Air India Express issued a statement expressing regret to affected passengers. The spokesperson reiterated, “A segment of our cabin crew reported illness unexpectedly, commencing from last night, resulting in flight disruptions. While we are in conversation with the crew to comprehend the reasons behind these incidents, our teams are actively tackling this issue to minimize any inconvenience to our passengers.”
As per airline insiders, the crux of the issue revolves around promotions, with senior members expressing dissatisfaction with the new merit-based promotion system over the previous seniority-based approach.
On May 2, a town hall meeting convened with senior management personnel and MD Alok Singh, addressing such concerns and providing clarifications. However, despite this, sources indicate that “senior staffers proceeded on mass leave, impeding our operations.”
This protest has led to flight cancellations and disruptions, as a section of the crew calls in sick to voice grievances against purported mismanagement at the Tata Group-owned airline.
In recent weeks, a union representing a faction of Air India Express cabin crew alleged mismanagement within the airline and disparities in staff treatment.
The Air India Express Employees Union (AIXEU), a registered union purportedly representing around 300 cabin crew members, primarily seniors, asserted that managerial shortcomings have adversely impacted employee morale.
It is noteworthy that as part of its airline business consolidation efforts, Tata Group intends to merge Air India Express and AIX Connect, along with Vistara merging with Air India. Currently, AI Express boasts a fleet of 73 aircraft and operates 360 flights daily.