Cabin crew report ‘sick’, AI Express cancels 80 flights

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Troubles don’t seem to be easing for Tata group airlines. After industrial action by pilots of Vistara on service rules, the several cabin crew at the group’s budget airlines Air India Express reported sick on Wednesday. As a result, the airline cancelled over 80 flights.

Hundreds of passengers were left stranded at various airports since Tuesday night after several senior cabin crew reporting sick to protest against alleged mismanagement at the Tata Group-owned airline.

Reacting to the development, the civil aviation ministry on Wednesday sought a report from Air India Express on cancellation of flights. The airline has also been advised to ensure facilities to passengers as per DGCA norms.

Scores of Air India Express passengers, mostly scheduled to travel to the Gulf nations, protested at airports in Kerala against last-minute flight cancellations.

Quting some sources, PTI  reported more than 200 cabin crew are believed to have reported sick to protest against the alleged mismanagement at the airline.

The cabin crew shortage has resulted in the cancellation of at least more than 80 flights since Tuesday night and scores of flights were delayed.

Flight disruptions are happening at various airports, including Kochi, Calicut, Delhi and Bengaluru, they added.

An Air India Express spokesperson said the airline is engaging with the cabin crew members to understand the reasons for reporting sick and also apologised for the flight disruptions.

The airline is to operate 360 daily flights during the summer schedule that started in the last week of March.

“A section of our cabin crew has reported sick at the last minute, starting last night, resulting in flight delays and cancellations.

“While we are engaging with the crew to understand the reasons behind these occurrences, our teams are actively addressing this issue to minimise any inconvenience caused to our guests as a result,” the Air India Express spokesperson said in a statement.

Apologising to the customers for the “unexpected disruption”, the spokesperson said those impacted by the cancellations will be offered a full refund or complimentary rescheduling to another date.