Air India’s operations have been hampered as around 300 crew cabin members have reported sick at the last minute, and more than 70 flights have been cancelled till now by the airline, according to reports the staff has called for sick leave together to protest against the mismanagement by the authorities, Air India Express is acquired by Tata Group, along with Air India, under a government-led strategic divestment plan in January 2022.
Air India spokesperson on this matter:
Talking about this situation, an Air India spokesperson has said, ”A section of our cabin crew reported sick at the last minute, starting last night, resulting in flight delays and cancellations. While we are engaging with the crew to understand the reasons behind these occurrences, our teams are actively addressing this issue to minimise any inconvenience caused to our guests as a result.” The Airline company also said that guests flying with them today are requested to check if their flight is affected, before heading towards the airport.
As of this, the passengers are left discontented and in response to this the airline company has issued an apology statement stating “We sincerely apologise to our guests for this unexpected disruption and emphasize that this situation does not reflect the standard of service we strive to provide. Guests impacted by cancellations will be offered a full refund or complimentary rescheduling to another date.”
Air India Express Employees Union:
Towards the end of the last month, a segment of the Air India Express cabin crew which is represented by a recognized union called the Air India Express Employees Union, alleged mismanagement within the airline, citing unequal treatment of employees and a negative impact on staff morale. This union, claiming to represent approximately 300 senior cabin crew members, raised concerns about the mishandling of affairs within the company.
Conclusion: The Airline’s crew have been discontented for a while now, especially since the merger of Air India Express and AIX Connect as well as Vistaera with Air India, and this incident took place a month after Tata Group’s other airline, Vistara, has faced pilot shortages that forced them to cut down around 25-30 flights daily. The reason for today’s incident is also reported as that the crew is on a protest against the top authorities of the airline.
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