Air India Express, owned by Tata Group, has decided to immediately terminate the services of 30 cabin crew members who went on mass sick leave without notice. This action led to the cancellation of over 100 flights since Tuesday night, affecting approximately 15,000 passengers. At least 74 flights scheduled for Thursday have been canceled due to this crisis.
According to sources from India Today TV, the 30 crew members received their termination notices on Wednesday night. Regional Labour Commissioner Ashok Perumalla has called for a meeting today in Delhi at 2 pm with the airline management and the protesting crew members.
In the termination notice sent via email to the employees concerned, the airline stated that the actions of the crew members indicated a pre-mediated and concerted abstention from work without any justifiable reason. This mass sick leave not only violated applicable laws but also breached the Air India Express Limited Employees’ Service Rules that are applicable to them.
The statement mentioned that the crew members were scheduled for a flight on Tuesday but informed the Scheduling team at the last minute that they were unwell and reported sick. It was noted that a significant number of other cabin crew members also reported sick around the same time and did not show up for duty, indicating a pre-mediated and concerted abstention from work without any justifiable reason.
The airline emphasized that this led to the cancellation of a large number of flights, disrupting the entire schedule and causing significant inconvenience to their passengers. The airline concluded that the crew members’ actions amounted to a concerted effort with a common understanding to not operate flights and disrupt the company’s services.
Following the termination of cabin crew members, the airline issued a statement stating that they would no longer be considered employees. Consequently, they would lose access to official mails, servers, and other communication channels. Additionally, the airline clarified that the affected individuals and their dependents would no longer be eligible for any employee-related benefits provided by the company.
In response to the cabin crew crisis, Air India Express CEO Aloke Singh announced that flight services would be curtailed until May 13. This decision was made due to the disruptions that had affected the airline’s network. Singh explained that the non-availability of crew members necessitated the adjustment of schedules.
The Union Ministry of Civil Aviation has requested a detailed report from the airline regarding flight delays and cancellations. They have urged Air India Express to take immediate action to address the crisis.
On May 3, Regional Labour Commissioner Ashok Perumalla criticized Air India Express for mismanagement in an email statement. He acknowledged the validity of the union’s concerns and accused the airline management of not sending responsible decision-makers to the conciliation proceedings. Perumalla highlighted the blatant violation of labor laws and suggested the formation of a high-level committee to address employee grievances.
The flight cancellations occurred from Tuesday night to Wednesday, causing chaos at some airports as passengers were not informed in advance. In Delhi, at least 16 Air India Express flights were canceled on Wednesday, while disruptions were also reported in Bengaluru. In Kerala, multiple flights were canceled from all four airports in the state – Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Kannur, and Kozhikode.
The airline has announced that it will be providing alternative flights for passengers who have been affected. A revised flight schedule has been released, and passengers are advised to check if their flights are impacted by the disruption before going to the airport. Recent updates have surfaced amidst ongoing dissatisfaction among cabin crew members at the budget airline, particularly following the commencement of the merger process between AIX Connect (formerly AirAsia India) and Air India Express. In December 2023, the airline received a show cause notice from the Union Labour Ministry regarding alleged violations of regulations concerning disputes between the airline’s management and cabin crew members. The notice was issued in response to concerns raised by cabin crew members, which included issues related to room sharing during layovers.