In pics: Air India flight cancellations lead to protests in many airports

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Over 70 Air India Express flights were cancelled and scores of them got delayed after around 300 cabin crew reportedly went on a ‘mass sick leave’. The crew members reported sick to protest against the alleged mismanagement at the Tata Group-owned airline, sources told PTI.

On Wednesday, several passengers protested at airports in multiple cities, with viral videos showing the flyers engaged in heated arguments with the airport staff claiming their flights were cancelled at the last minute.

#WATCH | Kerala: Passengers at Thiruvananthapuram airport face difficulties as more than 70 international and domestic flights of Air India Express have been cancelled after senior crew member of the airline went on mass ‘sick leave’. pic.twitter.com/c234yIzedA

— ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2024

In Kerala, protests by irate passengers were witnessed at all airports against the last-minute cancellation of their Air India Express flights. Several passengers claimed they were informed about the flight cancellations only after they completed their security check while waiting to board the flight.

A woman, who was supposed to travel to Sharjah from Kannur with her husband and twin babies, said she has to rejoin work on May 9, but the airline is offering her a flight from Kochi only on May 10. “What would be the point in me travelling on May 10? If I do not reach there before May 9, my boss will say not to come and I will lose my job,” PTI quoted her as saying.

Another woman, who booked a ticket to meet her husband, who is currently hospitalised in Muscat, claimed she only got to know about the cancellation when she reached the Kannur airport.

Another traveller said he did not wait to cancel the ticket and instead quickly bought one for Indigo at ₹37,000.

“There is a fight going on at the ticket counter. So, I quickly bought a ticket on Indigo for Rs 37,000,” the news agency quoted the person as saying.

In the national capital, videos on social media site X showed a group of passengers swarming the Air India Express counter at the airport and shouting at the ground officials.

Delhi Airport Kalesh (Air India Express cancelled 3 flights to Goa, Guwahati and Srinagar last moment and refused to provide any alternatives. So,Kalesh ensued) pic.twitter.com/TdIJlMhmTt

— Ghar Ke Kalesh (@gharkekalesh) May 8, 2024

Discontent has been brewing among a section of the Air India cabin crew recently, especially after the merger process started, reports said.

Flight disruptions were seen at various airports across the country, including Kochi, Kozhikode and Bengaluru.

“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,” read a statement from the Air India Express spokesperson.

Apologising to the passengers for the ‘unexpected disruption, the spokesperson informed that the passengers 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 statement added.

This comes after a union representing a section of the Air India Express cabin crew last month alleged that the airline is being mismanaged. It further claimed that there is a lack of equality in the treatment of the staff.

Air India Express Employees Union (AIXEU), a registered union, also alleged that the morale of the employees is affected by the mismanagement of the affairs. The union claims to represent around 300 cabin crew members, mostly seniors.

Earlier, Tata Group full-service carrier Vistara witnessed pilot woes after which the airline was forced to temporarily cut down capacity by 10% or 25-30 flights daily, reports said.

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KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow