In a recent turn of events, Air India Express has made the decision to terminate the contracts of approximately 30 cabin crew members. This decision comes on the heels of nearly 300 employees calling in sick and disconnecting their phones, causing widespread disruptions to flight schedules. The airline has hinted that more terminations could follow and plans to convene a townhall meeting with cabin crew members today. The fallout from this action has resulted in the disruption of 76 flights, including cancellations and the potential transfer of flights to other airlines within the group.

Air India Express, a budget airline under the ownership of the Tata group, has been grappling with internal unrest among its workforce. Sources suggest that employees have been expressing discontent over revised employment terms, citing concerns about unequal treatment and alterations to their compensation packages. Allegations have surfaced regarding discrepancies in job assignments, with some staff members claiming they were offered lower positions despite qualifying for higher roles during interviews. These issues have emerged amidst the ongoing merger process with AIX Connect, formerly known as AirAsia India.

This development compounds existing challenges for the Tata group, following recent disruptions at its full-service carrier Vistara, where pilots staged protests against changes to their salary structures. Responding to the situation, an Air India Express spokesperson stated that management is actively engaging with the cabin crew to ascertain the underlying reasons behind the mass sick leave and is committed to minimizing inconvenience to passengers.

The termination letters issued to the dismissed crew members cite their actions as a premeditated and coordinated effort to abstain from work without valid justification. The airline asserts that this collective action resulted in significant disruptions to flight operations, causing inconvenience to passengers and tarnishing the company's reputation. The letters further allege that the sick leave was not only in violation of applicable laws but also breached the company's employee service rules.

This latest development underscores the challenges facing Air India Express and highlights the need for resolution to ongoing disputes within the workforce.

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