Air India Express announces cancellation of 85 flights on Thursday due to cabin crew shortage

Air India Express said 85 flights were canceled as of May 9 as flight operations were disrupted by cabin crew taking sick leave this week.

The airline said it was operating 292 flights and Air India would provide support by operating on 20 routes.

“Taking appropriate action against certain individuals whose actions have caused serious inconvenience to guests,” the airline said.

The airline also assured passengers that if their flight was canceled or delayed by more than 3 hours, they could opt for a full refund or reschedule to a later date without any charges on Tia on WhatsApp (+91 6360012345) or on airindiaexpress.com.

Amid the ongoing standoff between Air India Express and some of its cabin crew that led to the cancellation of nearly 100 flights on May 8, the airline’s management has sacked some senior members of the crew who “declared themselves ill”, disrupting flight operations, according to sources close to the development.

“This clearly indicates a premeditated and concerted abstention from work without any justifiable reason,” read a management letter seen by Moneycontrol. She adds that this premeditated abstention led to the cancellation of a large number of flights and therefore to a disruption of the airline’s schedule.

According to a senior Air India Express executive and cabin crew Monyecontrol spoke to, the termination letters were sent to around 20 employees on May 8.

In a termination letter sent to employees, seen by Moneycontrol on May 8, the airline said it had decided to terminate the employees’ contract after a number of crew members called in sick at the eleventh hour.

He also accused the cabin crew’s actions of being subversive to the public interest and said their actions had caused “embarrassment, serious reputational damage and serious monetary losses” to the airline.