Air India Express faced disruptions as it canceled several flights on Wednesday due to ongoing issues with its crew rostering system. At the Delhi airport alone, seven flights were affected, reflecting challenges with scheduling for cabin crew and pilots.
Air India Express encountered operational setbacks on Wednesday as it grappled with challenges stemming from its crew rostering system. Sources revealed that the Tata Group-owned carrier, typically managing approximately 380 daily flights, has transitioned to a new rostering system. However, complications arising from this transition have led to disruptions in scheduling for cabin crew and pilots.
At the Delhi airport, specifically, sources disclosed the cancellation of seven Air India Express flights, comprising four departures and three arrivals scheduled between 1:50 am and 8:00 pm on Wednesday. While similar issues were reported at other airports, the exact tally of flight cancellations remains unconfirmed.
In response to inquiries, Air India Express has yet to issue a statement regarding the matter. This development follows recent turbulence within the airline, as a segment of cabin crew staged a sick-out in protest against alleged mismanagement. Although the strike concluded on May 9, with the returning of crew members to duty by May 11, the company continues to grapple with operational challenges.
On Tuesday, an insider disclosed that the airline managed to operate approximately 345 flights without any cancellations. The disruption on May 8 prompted the airline to retract termination notices served to 25 cabin crew members following conciliation discussions facilitated by the chief labour commissioner in New Delhi. Representatives from the airline and the Air India Express Employees Union (AIXEU) participated in the talks.
In a subsequent release on May 12, the union affirmed that all previously absent cabin crew had resumed duty by May 11, attributing any residual discrepancies to a scheduling software glitch introduced during the recent transition. Despite this assurance, the airline continues to grapple with operational disruptions, underscoring ongoing challenges in adapting to the new rostering system.
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