Tata-owned Air India Express has been hit by a wave of flight cancellations stemming from a cabin crew protest. Citing grievances over alleged mismanagement and unequal treatment by HR, over 200 cabin crew members have reported sick since May 7th, significantly disrupting operations.
The airline has been forced to cancel around 80 flights across key Indian airports, including Kochi, Calicut, and Bangalore. While Air India Express claims to be working with the crew to understand the situation and minimise passenger inconvenience, offering full refunds or rescheduling options to impacted travellers, the incident exposes deeper tensions within the airline.
Discontent amongst Air India Express cabin crew has been simmering for some time, particularly following the announcement of a merger with Air India Express Connect (formerly AirAsia India) as part of the Tata Group’s consolidation of its aviation holdings. The Air India Express Employees Union (AIXEU), representing a significant portion of the senior cabin crew, has levelled accusations of mismanagement and a lack of transparency in HR practices against the airline.
A letter sent to the Tata Group chairman in April detailed specific grievances, including the removal of certain allowances post-merger, leading to effective pay cuts despite the airline’s profitability. The union further alleges favouritism in internal job postings, bypassing qualified existing crew members for external candidates.
A town hall meeting between Air India Express management and the crew on May 2 failed to reach a resolution, highlighting the growing rift. Passengers have expressed frustration on social media regarding the sudden cancellations, with Air India Express attributing them to ‘operational reasons’ while offering rescheduling or refund options. This incident comes amidst broader challenges for the Tata Group’s aviation portfolio. Last month, pilot discontent at Vistara, another Tata airline undergoing integration with Air India, forced a temporary capacity reduction of 10 per cent, impacting 25-30 flights daily.
The situation underscores the complexities involved in merging airlines with distinct workforces and corporate cultures. The Tata Group will need to address the cabin crew’s concerns to restore normalcy to Air India Express operations and avoid further disruptions. Finding a solution that balances cost-cutting measures with employee morale will be crucial to ensure a smooth integration process across its entire aviation portfolio.