Amidst reports of discontent among cabin crew members, Air India Express has been grappling with a wave of flight cancellations and delays, affecting both international and domestic operations. The airline has attributed the disruptions to a sudden surge in sick reports filed by senior crew members overnight, without prior notice.
Airline insiders have expressed suspicions that the crew members' actions may be motivated by dissatisfaction with the performance-linked incentive component of their salaries, which has undergone revisions as part of a recent restructuring. The crew members are believed to be concerned about potential chaos at airports if they were to protest while on duty.
Efforts to communicate with the protesting cabin crew have so far been unsuccessful. Air India Express has released a statement expressing regret for the inconveniences caused by the flight disruptions and emphasizing that this situation is not representative of the airline's usual standards. The airline has assured passengers that those affected by cancellations will receive full refunds or complimentary rescheduling options.
The airline has also urged passengers with upcoming Air India Express flights to check for flight status updates before proceeding to the airport. Air India Express, now a subsidiary of the Tata Group, has recently faced scrutiny from the Union Labour Ministry, which issued a show cause notice in December 2023 for alleged violations of regulations related to disputes between the airline's management and cabin crew members.
The notice stemmed from concerns raised by cabin crew members, including dissatisfaction with room-sharing arrangements during layovers. The show cause notice was issued following a letter sent by the Air India Express Employees Union (AIXEU) to Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, highlighting various grievances, including the curtailment of service contracts for some crew members.
