Air India Express crisis - 74 flights cancelled, 25 employees sacked

Air India Express faced a significant crisis when a considerable number of its senior cabin crew members called in sick unexpectedly. This sudden sick leave led to the cancellation of numerous flights, creating significant inconvenience for passengers. In response to this situation, Air India Express took the decision to terminate the employment of some of the cabin crew members who called in sick, citing concerns that their actions were premeditated.

While the exact number of sacked employees was not disclosed by the airline, reports indicated that around 25 to 30 senior crew members might have been affected. The termination letters sent by Air India Express emphasised that the actions of the crew members had caused severe disruption to the airline's schedule and had tarnished its public image.

In an effort to mitigate the impact on passengers, Air India Express collaborated with Air India to operate a portion of its scheduled flights. However, despite these measures, 74 flights were cancelled. It prompted the airline to advise passengers to verify the status of their flights and offer options for refunds or rescheduling at no extra cost.

Aloke Singh, the CEO of Air India Express, addressed the situation, acknowledging that over 100 cabin crew members had reported sick at the last minute. It resulted in extensive operational disruptions. Singh assured stakeholders of the airline's commitment to addressing the issue and emphasised the importance of maintaining open communication channels to resolve concerns.

In response to the Air India Express crisis, the Civil Aviation Ministry intervened, requesting a detailed report on the flight cancellations and directing Air India Express to ensure that affected passengers were provided with the necessary assistance in accordance with aviation regulations.

The sudden sick leave of cabin crew members posed a significant challenge for Air India Express, impacting its operations and inconveniencing passengers. The airline remains focused on restoring normalcy and ensuring passenger satisfaction and operational excellence amidst the airline crisis.