New Delhi: Air India Express has taken the decision to terminate at least 25 cabin crew members following a mass sick leave incident that disrupted flight operations, affecting thousands of passengers. The termination comes after hundreds of employees reported sick, leading to significant flight disruptions.
According to reports, the management terminated cabin crew members who called in sick between Tuesday and Wednesday, citing their unprofessional behavior, which resulted in inconvenience to thousands of passengers. The mass sick leave was deemed a pre-meditated and concerted abstention from work without justifiable reason, violating Air India Express Limited employee service rules.
The decision to terminate the employees was based on their violation of employment contract conditions, leading to their immediate dismissal.
The disruption caused by the mass sick leave impacted more than 95 flights of Air India Express between Tuesday evening and Wednesday, affecting over 10,000 passengers. The delay and cancellation of over 90 international and domestic flights were attributed to cabin crew members reporting sick.
In response, Air India Express CEO, Aloke Singh, announced plans to reduce flight operations in the coming days. Singh expressed concern over the disruption caused by the sudden shortage of crew members, particularly those assigned the L1 role, emphasizing that their actions do not reflect the dedication of the majority of the airline’s cabin crew.
Singh stated, “This act is certainly not representative of the 2,000-odd cabin crew colleagues in the company who continue to respond to the call of duty and serve our guests with dedication and pride.” He thanked those who remained committed to their responsibilities during the crisis.
Singh invited staff for discussions to address any concerns they may have and assured that all communication channels are open.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has sought a detailed report from Air India Express regarding the flight disruptions. The ministry urged the airline to promptly resolve the issues and ensure that passengers are provided with facilities as per DGCA norms.
Sources within the ministry revealed that cancellations and delays began on Tuesday night, continuing into Wednesday morning, prompting flight operations to be curtailed due to a sudden shortage of crew members. Some senior crew members allegedly switched off their mobile phones just before flight operations, citing health issues.
