Air India Express, a subsidiary of the Tata Group, has been forced to cancel more than 100 flights due to a protest by a faction of cabin crew members who called in sick, citing grievances related to mismanagement within the airline.

The cancellations, which began on Tuesday evening, have affected approximately 15,000 passengers, particularly impacting the airline's operations in Gulf routes.

According to a report by Hello Vizag, Air India Express typically operates around 360 flights per day covering domestic and international routes. However, in response to the protest, the airline has decided to scale back its flight operations until May 13.

In a recent development, the airline has terminated the employment of approximately 25 cabin crew members who called in sick, resulting in the cancellation of over 90 flights. Moreover, an ultimatum has been issued to the remaining cabin crew members, requiring them to report for duty by 4 pm on Thursday or face termination.

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As a result of the shortage of cabin crew, the airline has cancelled at least 60 flights scheduled for Thursday. The protest, which began with over 200 cabin crew members calling in sick, has led to disruptions at multiple airports, including Kochi, Calicut, Delhi, and Bengaluru, affecting both domestic and international flights, particularly those to Gulf nations.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has intervened, requesting a detailed report from Air India Express on the flight cancellations and urging the airline to swiftly address the underlying issues. Passengers affected by the disruptions have been advised to receive assistance from airport operators.

In response to the situation, a spokesperson from Air India Express has apologized for the flight disruptions and stated that the airline is engaging with the cabin crew members to understand their concerns.

This protest comes amid ongoing merger discussions between Air India Express and AIX Connect (formerly AirAsia India), as part of the Tata Group's efforts to consolidate its airline business, which also involves merging Vistara with Air India.

Air India Express CEO Aloke Singh expressed regret over the disruptions caused by the protest, emphasizing the need to adjust flight schedules to accommodate crew shortages. 

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