The crew is on "Mass Sick Leave"?
On Wednesday, 08 May 2024, nearly 70 Air India Express flights were canceled as the cabin crew members went on a "mass sick leave", official sources informed.
79 international and domestic flights were canceled after 300 senior cabin crew members reported sick at the last moment and switched off their cell phones as well.
The Air India Express management team is trying to reach out to the crew, who are protesting against the new employment term at the Tata Group-owned airline, sources 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 this, our teams are addressing this issue to minimize any inconvenience caused to our guests," an Air India Express spokesperson said.
"We sincerely apologize to our guests for this disruption and this situation does not reflect the standard of service we strive to provide," the spokesperson added.
The airline said Guests affected by this cancellation will be given a full refund or complimentary rescheduling to another date.
Several passengers took to their social media accounts and complained about the sudden cancellations of their flights. They said that they had "no prior information" about the cancellations.
Some "very disappointed" passengers on X said that they had reached the airport when they were informed that their flights were canceled.
"We apologize for any inconvenience. Please be informed that your flight has been canceled due to operational reasons," Air India Express said.
In April, 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 staff treatment.
Air India Express Employees Union, a registered union, had also alleged that mismanagement of the affairs affected the morale of the employees.
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