Air India Express flight cancellations lead to protests at airports, airline responds

Updated on May 8, 2024 at 2:48 PM IST

The incident follows recent challenges faced by the aviation sector, with Vistara, another airline owned by the Tata group, experiencing a shortage of pilots and temporarily reducing its flight capacity last month.

Air India cancels over 80 flights after cabin crew take collective sick leave

Air India Express passengers faced chaos and inconvenience as the airline canceled more than 80 flights and several others were delayed after a section of cabin crew called in sick to protest poor alleged management of the airline. The protest led to a shortage of cabin crew, causing disruptions at several airports, including Kochi, Calicut and Bangalore.

The sudden cancellations frustrated many passengers, many of whom took to social media to air their grievances. Videos of passengers gathered at airports in Delhi, Kochi, Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram have gone viral on social media. The videos show passengers arguing with airport staff, claiming their flights were canceled at the last minute.

Some passengers said they were informed of the cancellations while waiting to board their flight. Passengers affected by flight cancellations have been offered compensation options, including a full refund or free rescheduling to another date.

Responding to the situation, an Air India Express spokesperson said the airline was actively engaging with the protesting cabin crew to understand their concerns. The spokesperson also apologized for the inconvenience caused to passengers and assured that efforts were underway to minimize disruption.

“Some of our cabin crew called in sick at the last minute, starting last night, leading to flight delays and cancellations. As we speak with the crew to understand the reasons for these events, our teams are actively addressing this issue to minimize any inconvenience caused to our guests as a result,” said an Air India Express spokesperson.

The airline, which operates 360 daily flights as part of its summer schedule, is facing discontent among some cabin crew, particularly since the launch of the merger process with AIX Connect (formerly AirAsia India). . According to reports, more than 200 cabin crew members have called in sick in protest against the airlines.

The incident comes after Vistara, another airline owned by the Tata group, experienced a pilot shortage and temporarily reduced its flight capacity last month. The Tata Group is in the process of consolidating its airline businesses, including merging Air India Express and AIX Connect, as well as Vistara with Air India.