Airlines are facing severe chaos as Air India Express cancels over 70 flights due to cabin crew protest

Over 70 Air India Express flights were canceled after senior cabin crew members went on mass sick leave, stranding thousands of passengers. The move is believed to be a protest against alleged mismanagement at the Tata Group-owned airline.

On Wednesday, more than 70 international and domestic flights of Air India Express were canceled, pushing thousands of passengers to remain at airports around the country as a section of the airline’s cabin crew reportedly went on strike. 

The cancellations began late on Monday night after a big number of senior cabin crew members were absent because of getting sick at the last moment which left the low-cost airline in a critical shortage of staff. The number of flights going from the major hubs like Kochi, Calicut, and Bangalore were included among those that were grounded.

Air India Express has stated in its released statement that "a part of our crew is unwell last minute" and regrets the inconvenience caused to passengers. The airline expressed interest in reaching out to the dissenting staff members and reducing the impact on operations.

Contrarily, some of the passengers aired their grievances on social media concerning the last-minute cancellations.  They neither had any notice nor any help from the airline. Video footage showing a disorderly state at the airports was made.  The stranded passengers were seen fighting to make alternative arrangements.

Aviation authorities are looking into the mass leave episode, which is thought to be a cabin crew protest against the alleged mismanagement at the troubled Tata Group-owned airline. A week ago, a union comprising 300 senior cabin crew had indicated that they would be protesting over allegations of discriminatory treatment and mismanagement that were making the employees feel demoralized.

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The disruptions have further set back the revival plans of Air India under the Tata Group, which acquired the debt-stricken state carrier through government disinvestment last year. Experts note that smoothing out labor disputes and staff morale will be a key to accomplishing the conglomerate’s wider restructuring initiatives.