80 Air India Express Flights Cancelled As Crew Goes On Mass Sick Leave

Air India's problems with pilots and crew seem far from over. Today, around 80 Air India Express flights have been canceled after the cabin crew members went on a "mass sick leave", sources said to NDTV.

The international and domestic flights were canceled after about 300 senior cabin crew members reported sick at the last minute and subsequently switched off their mobile phones.

Sources said that the Air India Express management is making efforts to reach out to the crew, who are apparently protesting against the new employment term at the Tata Group-owned airline.

Air India Response

Confirming the mass cancellations, an Air India spokesperson said, "A section of our cabin crew has 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."

"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," the spokesperson added.

Air India has said that passengers impacted by cancellations will be offered a full refund or complimentary rescheduling to another date. Many passengers vented their anger on social media, complaining about the sudden cancellations of their flights.

Social Media Trend

Passengers said that they had no prior information about the cancellations and only got to know once they reached the airport.

We apologise for any inconvenience. Please be informed that your flight has been cancelled due to operational reasons," Air India Express said in response to posts by passengers on X. Only last month, a union representing a section of the Air India Express cabin crew alleged that the airline was being mismanaged and there was a lack of equality in the treatment of the staff.

Air India Express Employees Union (AIXEU), which is a registered union, had also alleged that mismanagement of the affairs has affected the morale of the employees.