Air India Express lays off 25 crew a day after massive sick leave

NEW DELHI: Air India Express has issued termination letters to around 25 cabin crew members who called in sick, leading to the cancellation of over 90 flights, airline sources said on Thursday.

The Tata group-owned airline also issued an ultimatum to other cabin crew who called in sick to return to duty by 4 pm on Thursday or face dismissal, they added.

Air India Express also canceled at least 60 flights on Thursday due to non-availability of cabin crew, the sources said, adding that mass departures of some cabin crew caused immense inconvenience to passengers.

The airline has around 1,400 cabin crew members, including around 500 senior executives.

More than 200 cabin crew started calling in sick on Tuesday evening to protest alleged mismanagement by the airline that led to the cancellation of more than 90 flights.