Over 70 Air India Express flights cancelled because of crew shortage

More than 70 Air India Express flights were cancelled after the cabin crew members went on a "mass sick leave", official sources said on Wednesday.

A total of 79 international and domestic flights were cancelled after about 300 senior cabin crew members reported sick at the last minute and switched off their mobile phones.

“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 minimize any inconvenience caused to our guests as a result,” said an official spokesperson.

The Air India Express management is currently trying to reach out to the crew, who are protesting against the new employment term at the Tata Group-owned airline, sources said. There are also allegations that there was a lack of equality in the treatment of the staff after the merger with Tata Group. 

They claim that some staff members were offered lower job position despite clearing interviews, sources said. Air India Express Employees Union (AIXEU) has alleged that mismanagement of the affairs has affected the morale of the employees as well.

"We sincerely apologize to our guests for this unexpected disruption and emphasize that this situation does not reflect the standard of service we strive to provide," the spokesperson added.

The airline has said it will offer a full refund to the affected guests or provide complementary rescheduling to another date,