AI Express fires cabin crew members over 'premeditated' sick leave
The Air India Express terminated the services of 25 cabin crew members on Thursday—a day after around 300 airline employees took a "massive sick leave." This "sick leave" resulted in disruptions affecting about 90 flights on Wednesday, and its impact is likely to be felt on Thursday as well. According to reports, the number of job terminations might also go up. Meanwhile, the airline management will hold a townhall meeting with the cabin crew members to address the issue.
Why does this story matter?
The employees of AI Express—a subsidiary of the Tata Group—have been protesting against the new employment terms and alleged unfair treatment. Some staffers claim they were assigned lower-ranking roles despite interviewing successfully for higher positions. This unrest is happening amid the airline's merger with AIX Connect, formerly known as AirAsia India. This marks a new challenge for the group—coming barely a month after its full-service carrier Vistara faced disruptions due to pilot protests over their pay packages.
'Premeditated': Airline's termination notice to employees
In the termination letter, which was widely shared on social media, the airline said the cabin crew members reporting sick at "around the same time...clearly points to a premeditated and concerted abstention from work without any justifiable reason." "Your act of reporting sick for work amounts to a concerted action with a common understanding, to not operate the flight and to disrupt the services of the company," the letter added.
Read: AI Express's post on flight cancellations
AI Express employees union's complaint with management
The Air India Express Employees Union (AIXEU), claiming to represent crew members, has lodged a complaint with management and "highlighted a stark departure from commitments." Accusations include mismanagement and unequal treatment of staff. In response, Air India Express sources have stated the airline does not acknowledge any employee unions.
Aviation ministry seeks report over flight cancellations
Separately, on Tuesday night, the Ministry of Civil Aviation sought a comprehensive report from AI Express over the cancellation of nearly 90 flights. The ministry also directed the airlines to immediately fix the issues and provide passenger services in accordance with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) standards. Notably, the carrier operates more than 2500 flights a week across 31 domestic and 14 international airports, with a fleet of over 70 planes, including Boeing 737s and Airbus A320s.
