Air India Express Fires 30 Crew Who Went On Mass Sick Leave

Air India Express has fired at least 30 cabin crew after nearly 300 employees called in sick, resulting in the cancellation of nearly 100 flights on Wednesday.

In an internal memo addressed to the dismissed employees, the airline described their actions as a "premeditated and coordinated refusal to work without valid justification."

In the termination letter, widely shared on social media sites, addressed to one of the employees, the airline stated that the cabin crew members reporting sick "around the same time... clearly points to a premeditated and concerted abstention from work without any justifiable reason."

More people are expected to lose their jobs and management is likely to convene a town hall meeting with cabin crew members today. Today, operations have been disrupted, with a total of 76 flights affected, including both cancellations and flights that may be operated by other airlines within the same group.

In the termination letter, the Tata-owned airline stated, "Your act of reporting sick for work amounts to a concerted action with a common understanding, to not operate the flight and to disrupt the services of the company. This is not only in violation of the applicable laws but also violates the Air India Express Limited Employees' Service Rules as applicable to you."

The employees have been protesting against the new employment terms, NDTV reported citing sources. The crew has raised concerns about unequal treatment among staff. They allege that certain employees were offered lower-ranking positions despite clearing interviews for higher roles. Also, they have highlighted changes in their compensation package, the sources added.