The operational situation at Tata-owned Air India Express began to show signs of improvement starting Friday, May 10, albeit at a gradual pace, as cabin crew members gradually returned to duty. It is anticipated that the airline will fully resume normal operations by Sunday, May 12. Moreover, the performance of international flights was expected to witness enhancement from Friday, May 10, onward, owing to the increased availability of cabin crew. Furthermore, it is expected that approximately 45-50 flights will be cancelled today. The ongoing strike by Air India Express cabin crew, which began on Tuesday night, May 7, resulting in mass sick leave, has led to significant disruptions in flight schedules. Consequently, over 170 flights were grounded on Thursday evening, May 9, with an additional 75 flights cancelled on May 10. Notably, the airline issued termination notices to 25 cabin crew members who participated in the strike. Air India Express Scraps 75 Flights on Friday, Aims for Normal Operations by Sunday: Official Statement On Friday, Air India Express cancelled five flights across four routes originating from Kolkata, as part of its efforts to stabilize operations amidst the cabin crew crisis. These cancellations included two flights to Hyderabad, and one each to Chennai, Cochin, and Ayodhya. Furthermore, nine flights faced delays at Delhi airport. In addition to the 120 cancellations, the airline managed to operate 246 flights to various destinations, out of which 20 were operated by Air India and two by Vistara. According to official sources, Air India Express suffered an approximate revenue loss of Rs 30 crore due to flight cancellations in cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru, among others. As per an official announcement, the airline plans to conduct fitness assessments for cabin crew members returning to duty after the strike. The strike action was prompted by alleged mismanagement within the airline and perceived inequalities in staff treatment. With a workforce of around 6,000 employees, Air India Express has approximately 2,000 cabin crew members.
