Air India Express Cabin Crew End Strike, Agreement to Reinstate 25

In a significant development, Air India Express cabin crew have called off their strike following a conciliatory meeting with the airline management. This decision came after a dispute that led to the cancellation of over 170 flights, affecting thousands of passengers across various airports. The strike, initiated by a section of the cabin crew who reported sick in protest from Tuesday night, was aimed at highlighting alleged mismanagement within the airline.

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The resolution was reached during a nearly five-hour-long meeting at the Office of the Chief Labour Commissioner Central in New Delhi. The meeting saw negotiations between the Air India Express Employees Union (AIXEU), affiliated with the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), and the airline's management. As a result, 25 staff members, previously terminated, will be reinstated to their positions.

Girish Chandra Arya, All India Secretary of the BMS, confirmed that the termination of the 25 cabin crew members had been withdrawn. He also mentioned that both parties would engage in further discussions to address ongoing issues, with another meeting scheduled for May 28.

A document signed by both parties indicated that all cabin crew members who had reported sick are to resume duty immediately with a fitness certificate. This agreement was reached after persuasion and appeal by the Conciliation Officer and the Chief Labour Commissioner. Furthermore, the management has agreed to review the cases of these crew members as per service regulations.

The airline assured that it would address and resolve all issues raised by the cabin crew during the conciliation proceedings. Earlier, Air India Express had to cancel approximately 23 percent of its total operational capacity, equating to 85 flights due to a shortage of cabin crew. However, efforts were made to minimize disruptions, with Air India operating flights on 20 routes of Air India Express, which had curtailed services until May 13.

The civil aviation ministry had sought a report from Air India Express regarding flight cancellations and urged prompt resolution of the issues. Discontent among staff has been growing, particularly after the initiation of a merger process with AIX Connect, formerly AirAsia India. The striking cabin crew raised concerns over room sharing, lack of proper support, revised salary structures, and alleged differential treatment of experienced crew members.

Air India Express CEO Aloke Singh addressed the disruptions caused by the strike in a message to staff, noting that over 100 cabin crew members reported sick at the last minute since Tuesday evening. Singh emphasized that company leadership was open to discussions to address any concerns.

This strike follows recent operational challenges faced by Tata Group's full-service carrier Vistara, which also experienced staffing issues leading to a temporary reduction in capacity. The Tata Group is currently in the process of consolidating its airline business by merging Air India Express and AIX Connect with Air India.