Air India Express Faces Cabin Crew Crisis As Over 70 Flights Cancelled, Passengers Stranded

Social media platforms became a sounding board for passenger grievances, with some individuals voicing frustration over the abrupt flight cancellations.

8 May 2024

By Payoshi Bisht

Air India Express finds itself embroiled in a crisis as a shortage of cabin crew members has prompted the cancellation of several flights, leaving passengers stranded. The airline confirmed the cancellations, attributing them to a sudden surge in sick reports from a segment of their cabin crew.

In a statement provided to the news agency, an Air India Express spokesperson addressed the issue, stating, “A section of our cabin crew has reported sick at the last minute, starting last night, resulting in flight delays and cancellations.” The spokesperson assured passengers that the airline is actively engaging with the affected crew members to find out the underlying reasons for their absence and is working diligently to mitigate any disruptions in travel plans.

Expressing regret for the inconvenience caused, the spokesperson emphasised that such occurrences do not align with the airline’s commitment to service excellence. Affected passengers have been assured of options for rebooking or receiving full refunds for their disrupted travel arrangements.

This setback comes against the backdrop of simmering discontent within the airline, with the Air India Express Employees Union (AIXEU) alleging mismanagement and unequal treatment of staff. The union’s claims suggest that internal misunderstandings have caused the absence of crew members. 

Responding to inquiries, Air India Express cited “operational reasons” for the cancellations and extended offers for rescheduling within a given time frame, at the same time offering full refunds through their automated service channels. 

A recent tweet  posted by an X user @crafteraditi highlighted the issue of flight delays. The tweet read, “I had a connecting flight from Lucknow to Delhi and Del to Jaipur today. @airindiax canceled the flight at the last moment from Del to Jaipur and upon asking for the refund they mentioned I can’t board the flight from Lucknow to Delhi if I want a refund as they don’t have a partial refund policy.”

As the airline grapples with these setbacks, passengers are advised to stay updated on the status of their flights before making their way to the airport.

The airline company issued an official statement.

“A section of our cabin crew 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.

“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.”