Aviation News – Fresh turbulence has hit the Tata Group once again. Its low-cost carrier Air India Express experienced delays and cancellations of over 70 domestic and international flights due to a section of its crew members calling in sick at the last minute.
In a statement to CNBC-TV18, an Air India Express spokesperson acknowledged the disruption. The spokesperson said, “A section of our cabin crew has reported sick at the last minute, starting last night, resulting in flight delays and cancellations.”
The spokesperson said since the disruptions began last night, the airline is engaging with the affected crew to understand the underlying reasons.
The spokesperson added that the airline’s teams are actively working to address this issue and minimise inconvenience to passengers.
Passengers impacted by cancellations, as stated by the spokesperson, will be offered either a full refund or complimentary rescheduling to another suitable date.
Sources said the aviation ministry has called for a report from Air India Express regarding the cancellations and asked them to resolve issues promptly while ensuring proper facilities are provided to passengers as per DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) norms.
In response to a complaint by one user Anoop over a cancelled flight on the X platform, Air India Express said: “…Please note that the flight is cancelled due to operational reasons. As a part of service recovery, you can either reschedule the flight within the next 7 days or opt for a full refund. You can make changes to your booking by visiting our chat bot, Tia-airindiaexpress.com/home.”
A PTI report mentioned that protests by irate passengers were witnessed at all airports in Kerala due to last-minute cancellations. According to the report, passengers, many of whom were travelling to the Gulf nations, said they were informed about the cancellations after completing security checks.