Air India Express Cabin Crew End Strike, 25 Staff Members Reinstated

In a significant development, Air India Express cabin crew have decided to call off their strike, following a conciliation meeting that led to the reinstatement of 25 staff members previously terminated. This resolution came after a section of the cabin crew began reporting sick from Tuesday night, protesting against what they claimed was mismanagement within the airline. This action had resulted in the cancellation of over 170 flights, affecting thousands of passengers across various airports.

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The agreement to end the strike and reinstate the terminated employees was reached during a nearly five-hour-long meeting at the Office of the Chief Labour Commissioner Central in New Delhi. The meeting saw representatives from the Air India Express Employees Union (AIXEU), affiliated with the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), and airline management come together to find a resolution. Girish Chandra Arya, All India Secretary of the BMS, confirmed that the termination of the 25 cabin crew members had been withdrawn and further discussions on the issues would take place on May 28.

Air India Express has expressed its commitment to swiftly restore its flight schedule following the strike's conclusion. A document signed by both union and airline representatives outlined that all cabin crew members who had reported sick would return to duty with a fitness certificate immediately. Additionally, on the appeal of the Chief Labour Commissioner Central, the management agreed to reinstate the 25 terminated cabin crew members immediately and review their cases as per service regulations.

The airline had earlier terminated the services of 25 striking cabin crew members and issued an ultimatum for others to resume duty by 4 pm on Thursday. In a statement, Air India Express voiced its satisfaction with the progress made during the conciliation meeting and extended an apology to those inconvenienced by the disruptions. The airline also advised passengers to check their flight status before heading to the airport as it works towards normalizing operations.

Earlier in the day, it was reported that approximately 250 cabin crew members called in sick, exacerbating operational challenges. This led to the cancellation of 85 flights, about 23% of its total operational capacity, with Air India stepping in to operate flights on 20 routes of Air India Express. The disruptions prompted a response from the civil aviation ministry, which sought a report from Air India Express on flight cancellations and urged swift resolution of issues.

Discontent among staff has been growing, particularly after plans were announced to merge AIX Connect (formerly AirAsia India) with Air India Express. The striking cabin crew have raised concerns over room sharing, lack of proper support, revised salary structures, and alleged differential treatment of experienced crew members. These issues were highlighted amid broader operational disruptions that left passengers stranded at various airports, including Kerala and West Bengal.

Air India Express CEO Aloke Singh had previously addressed the situation, noting that more than 100 cabin crew members reported sick at the last minute since Tuesday evening, leading to significant operational disruptions. Singh emphasized that company leadership was open to discussions to address any concerns.

This strike comes at a time when Tata Group is working towards consolidating its airline business by merging Air India Express and AIX Connect, as well as Vistara with Air India. The recent developments underscore ongoing challenges within the aviation sector but also highlight efforts towards resolution and dialogue between management and staff.