Air India Express Sacks 30 Cabin Crew Members After Mass Sickout Disrupts Flights

New Delhi: Air India Express has terminated approximately 30 cabin crew members following a significant disruption in operations caused by nearly 300 employees calling in sick and shutting off communication devices. The airline, a subsidiary of Tata-owned Air India, faced the cancellation of 74 flights amidst protests over new employment terms and alleged unequal treatment of staff.

The terminated employees were given until 4 pm to return to work, failing which action was taken against them. The disruption comes amid the ongoing merger with AIX Connect (formerly AirAsia India). This crisis follows recent troubles at Vistara, another Tata-owned carrier, where pilots protested over various issues.

In response, Air India Express assured passengers of efforts to minimize inconvenience and offered options for affected travellers. The termination letters cited the disruption as a deliberate act causing severe inconvenience and reputational damage.

The Air India Express Employees Union (AIXEU) accused the airline of mismanagement and unequal treatment of staff, while the regional labour commissioner affirmed the genuineness of the staff’s grievances, pointing out violations of labour laws.

To address the situation, the labour commissioner recommended the establishment of a high-level committee to address employee grievances and review HR practices for better industrial relations.