Tata Group-owned Air India Express has “terminated with immediate effect” the services of the senior cabin crew members who went on mass sick leave without notice, which led to the cancellation of over 100 flights since Tuesday night, affecting around 15,000 passengers.
In an emailed statement to the concerned crew members, the airline said the move by the crew members “pointed to a pre-mediated and concerted abstentation from work without any justifiable reason”.
It said that the mass sick leave was not only in violation of the applicable laws, but it also “violated the Air India Express Limited Employees’ Service Rules as are applicable to you”.
The statement said that the crew members were rostered for a flight on Tuesday. “However, you informed the Scheduling team at the last moment that you were unwell and accordingly reported sick.”
“It is noted that at around the same time, an overwhelming number of other cabin crew members have also reported sick and not reported for their duties. This clearly points to a pre-mediated and concerted abstentation from work without any justifiable reason,” it added.
The airline said that as a result, “a large number of flights had to be cancelled, thereby disrupting the entire schedule, which cause tremendous inconvenience to our esteemed passengers”.
“Your act amounts to a concerted action with a common understanding, to not operate the flight and to disrupt services of the company.”
As it terminated the services of the cabin crew members, the airline said, “You will no longer be considered an employee; you will no longer have access to official mails, servers, other communication; and you and your dependants shall not be eligible for any employee-related benefits provided by the company.”
The emailed statement followed Air India Express CEO Aloke Singh’s announcement that the airline was curtailing flight services until May 13 as a result of the cabin crew crisis.