Aviation ministry seeks Air India Express's report over flight cancellations
What's the story
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has sought a comprehensive report from Air India Express over the cancellation of nearly 90 flights since Tuesday night.
These interruptions were reportedly caused after a section of cabin crew took "massive sick leave" at the last minute.
The ministry has also directed the Tata Group airlines to immediately fix the issues and provide passenger services in accordance with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) standards.
Context
Why does this story matter?
According to reports, the "sick leaves" were in protest against the merger of AIX Connect (formerly AirAsia India) with Air India Express.
In April, the Air India Express Employees Union wrote a letter to Tata Group and Air India Chairman N Chandrasekaran, expressing concerns over disregard for experience and merit in favor of external candidates.
The union also voiced worries about reduced take-home pay due to the removal of some allowances as part of the merger.
Crew shortage
Airline's response to flight disruptions
Addressing the matter, an Air India Express spokesperson earlier said, "A section of our cabin crew has 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 minimize any inconvenience caused to our guests as a result," the airline added.
Passenger assistance
Air India Express offers solutions to affected passengers
It also announced that guests affected by cancellations will be offered a full refund or complimentary rescheduling to another date.
Several cabin crew members began reporting sick since Monday evening, resulting in "scores of flights" being cancelled at several airports, including Kochi, Calicut, and Kannur.
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.