Aviation Ministry seeks report from Air India Express on flight cancellations

New Delhi, May 8 , 2024 : The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Wednesday sought a report from Air India Express after it cancelled more than 80 flights due to a section of cabin crew members reporting sick to protest against certain policies of the airline management. The Ministry further directed the airline to resolve issues promptly, an official statement said.
The airline was also advised to ensure facilities to passengers as per DGCA norms. More than 80 flights of Air India Express have been cancelled and scores of flights have been delayed. An Air India Express spokesperson said, “The airline is engaging with the cabin crew members to understand the reasons for reporting sick and also apologised for the flight disruptions.” Several Air India Express flight services from the four international airports in Kerala have been disrupted since last night, as many cabin crew employees of the carrier have collectively taken sick leave. At the Cochin International Airport, four international flights and a domestic flight to Bengaluru were cancelled by the airline. The affected international services include flights to Sharjah, Bahrain, Dammam, and Muscat.
Additionally, Air India Express flights from Muscat, Bahrain, and Dammam scheduled for arrival this evening have also been cancelled. The airline has offered to accommodate stranded passengers on other flights operated by it, despite the prevailing uncertainty regarding the resumption of flight operations.