Air India Express cuts daily flights as mass sick leave hits operations
NEW DELHI : Air India Express will reduce its flight network by 20% over the next few days to stabilize operations after a section of cabin crew went on mass sick leave, causing significant disruptions. The mass leave is believed to be a result of grievances related to the ongoing merger with AIX Connect, formerly AirAsia India. “If there are concerns that need to be addressed, the company leadership is available for any discussions.
All communication channels remain open - departmental townhalls, monthly all-hands townhall, besides formal and informal reach out to leaders," said Air India Express chief executive Aloke Singh in a note to employees. A townhall is scheduled for Thursday. "While we are engaging with the crew to understand the reasons behind these occurrences, our teams are actively addressing this issue to minimize any inconvenience caused to our guests as a result," an Air India Express spokesperson told Mint.
Over 100 cabin crew members, mostly senior, have reported mass sick leave since the evening of 7 May, resulting in more than 90 flight cancellations. As a result, the Tata Group-backed airline will reduce its daily flight count by 48 flights. Currently, the airline operates around 240 daily domestic and international flights.
The company, which employs around 2,000 cabin crew members, has asked the staff to reach out to the airline to discuss their grievances related to the merger. Officials familiar with the matter have indicated that the senior cabin crew's concerns revolve around changes in their roles and the cultural shift towards a more corporate environment, akin to that of AIX Connect. This transformation is a departure from Air India Express's previous international-only focus.
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