Following the cancellation of over 90 flights earlier today (May 8), Air India Express Managing Director Aloke Singh addressed employees in an internal message and informed that the flight schedule will be curtailed in the coming days. He noted that 100 cabin crew members scheduled for duty reported sick, disproportionately affecting operations. Singh emphasised this action didn’t represent the dedication of the airline’s 2000 cabin crew members.
In a statement, the MD stated, “The disruptions have cascaded across the network, forcing us to curtail the schedules over the next few days. We had to do this to cope with the non-availability of crew and to recover schedules. This act is certainly not representative of the 2,000-odd cabin crew colleagues in the company who continue to respond to the call of duty and serve our guests with dedication and pride. I am thankful to all who are standing by the airline in this hour of crisis.”
Addressing concerns of stakeholders
Singh reassured stakeholders of accessible communication channels and encouraged dialogue to address concerns. He highlighted the commitment of senior cabin crew members, emphasising the airline’s continuous evolution and ambitious plans for growth.
“If there are concerns that need to be addressed, the company leadership is available for any discussions. All comms channels remain open departmental townhalls (one pre-scheduled for tomorrow), monthly all-hands townhall, besides formal and informal reach out to leaders,” he said in the statement.
“In particular, senior cabin crew colleagues who have seen the airline evolve from a small, niche operator to what we are today – a rapidly growing, 350+ flights-a-day carrier
