Civil Aviation Ministry Seeks Explanation Following Multiple Air India Express Flight Cancellations
According to reports from reliable sources, Air India Express has been forced to cancel numerous flights due to a portion of its cabin crew calling in sick to protest what they allege as mismanagement within the airline. This has prompted the Civil Aviation Ministry to request a detailed report from the airline regarding the situation.
Since Tuesday night, approximately 90 flights operated by Air India Express have been grounded. The Ministry has instructed the airline to swiftly address the issues at hand and ensure that passengers are provided with necessary assistance in accordance with DGCA regulations.
Tata Group-operated Air India Express has cancelled over 70 flights, both domestic and international, from Tuesday evening to Wednesday morning due to a significant number of crew members calling in sick. While the exact cause for this collective absence is yet to be officially confirmed, industry insiders suggest it stems from dissatisfaction among the crew regarding management practices.
An Air India Express spokesperson addressed the situation on Wednesday, stating, "A portion of our cabin crew has reported illness at short notice, starting last night, resulting in flight disruptions. While we are in dialogue with the crew to understand the underlying reasons, our teams are actively working to mitigate any inconvenience caused to our passengers."
Expressing regret for the disruption, the spokesperson assured affected passengers of full refunds or alternative booking arrangements. Passengers scheduled to fly are advised to check the status of their flights before heading to the airport.
Tension has been escalating among certain cabin crew members within the budget carrier for some time, particularly since the initiation of the merger process involving AIX Connect, formerly known as AirAsia India. According to sources, crew members began calling in sick from Monday evening onwards, leading to the cancellation of numerous flights across various airports, including Kochi, Calicut, and Bangalore.
Air India Express Faces Flight Cancellations Due to Crew Illness
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