AIR INDIA EXPRESS CANCELS 70 FLIGHTS AS CREW MEMBERS GO ON MASS ‘SICK LEAVE’, AVIATION MINISTRY MONITORING SITUATION

Air India Express on Wednesday (May 8) cancelled approximately 70 flights, both international and domestic, as a large number of senior crew members called in sick, causing significant disruptions to flight operations. This situation has prompted concerns within the Ministry of Civil Aviation, which is closely monitoring the developments.

The disruptions began on Tuesday night and extended into Wednesday morning, leading to the airline scaling back its scheduled flights. The sudden shortage of crew members resulted in grounded flights, affecting routes both within the country and internationally. Civil Aviation authorities are investigating the matter.

Meanwhile, last week the Air India officials told Financial Express online that “there is no and will be no issue of pilot shortage within the airline.”

According to ministry sources, some senior crew members turned off their phones just before flight operations, claiming health issues. With no replacement staff available, the affected flights had to be cancelled. 

Efforts underway to address flight disruptions: Assures Air India Express

The airline spokesperson addressed the situation this morning and highlighted that they are trying to understand the reasons behind the mass leave. Air India Express issued a statement apologising to affected passengers and addressing the situation.

“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 minimise any inconvenience caused to our guests as a result,” said Air India Express Spokesperson.

“We sincerely apologise to our guests for this unexpected disruption and emphasise 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. Guests flying with us today are requested to check if their flight is affected, before heading to the airport,” the spokesperson added.

This sudden sick leave by senior crew members has brought attention to operational challenges faced by the airline industry. This incident follows a similar occurrence on April 1, when Vistara encountered issues due to pilots calling in sick, severely affecting over 100 flights.

2024-05-08T05:27:55Z dg43tfdfdgfd