Air India Express has announced the cancellation of over 70 domestic and international flights, affecting thousands of passengers after a significant number of cabin crew members reported sick en masse, in what appears to be a coordinated strike over unresolved issues regarding pay and promotions.
The sudden unavailability of the crew began late Tuesday, leading to widespread disruption across several Indian airports on Wednesday. Notably impacted were international services to destinations including Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dammam, and Muscat.
In response to the cancellations, Air India Express is offering passengers full refunds or the option to reschedule their flights at no extra charge. However, these measures have not fully alleviated passenger frustrations, as many were caught unprepared by the sudden changes.
Amrita, a passenger from Thiruvananthapuram, expressed her dissatisfaction: “I was supposed to fly to Muscat this morning at 8 AM, but my flight was cancelled. After some disagreement with the staff, they rebooked me for Thursday, though I was told no other tickets were available until May 17th, and refunds would take two weeks to process.”
The airline has confirmed that over 300 senior cabin crew members participated in this mass sick call, allegedly protesting disparities in pay and promotional opportunities following the recent consolidation efforts by Air India’s parent company, Tata Group, which acquired the airline in 2022.
“Air India Express is deeply committed to resolving the current staffing issues and minimizing inconvenience to our valued customers,” stated an airline representative. “We are in active discussions with our crew to address their concerns and hope to reach an amicable resolution soon.”
Meanwhile, disruptions continue at various airports, with reports of minimal communication from airline management causing further distress among travelers. Satish, another affected passenger from Hyderabad, shared his experience: “There was a lack of clear communication at the airport. Initially, they reported a minor delay, but eventually, the flight was cancelled, and we received no further guidance.”
As the situation develops, Air India Express is working diligently to manage the disruptions and facilitate discussions with the crew to ensure a swift return to normal operations.
For ongoing updates and travel advisories, please visit the Air India Express official website or contact their customer service directly.