Air India Express fired at least 30 cabin crew members a day after more than 300 staff called in sick to skip work and then turned off their phones, causing widespread flight delays and cancellations.

The management reportedly gave employees an ultimatum, advising them to go to work by 4 p.m. local time on Thursday or face consequences.

Air India Express Crew Members Reportedly Oppose New Work Conditions

According to NDTV, sources have said that workers have been protesting the new employment terms and complained about being treated unfairly.

Despite passing interviews for higher-level positions, senior employees also received offers for lower job roles. The crew has also brought attention to various changes in their salary plan.

In a statement, a spokesperson of Air India Express said that the company is communicating with the workers to determine the cause of the mass sick leave and is addressing any difficulties the passengers may have. The low-cost airline's management is scheduled to meet with the cabin crew members.

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Air India Express Says Mass Sick Leave Shows Organized Refusal to Work Without Valid Reason

Wion reported that Air India Express issued a termination letter to 30 crew members, saying they were fired because the mass sick leave indicates a deliberate and coordinated refusal to work without a valid reason.

The letter noted that the cancellation of many flights significantly disrupted the entire airline's schedule. It also said that the crew's actions had embarrassed the firm, damaged its reputation, and caused the company to lose a lot of money.

The letter continued that the move was against the applicable laws and the airline's employees' service rules. The Air India Express Employees Union (AIXEU), which claims to represent crew members, wrote to management about neglecting its obligations. 

The union has accused the company of mismanagement and unfair treatment of staff. However, according to sources, Air India Express does not recognize employees' unions.

The regional labor commissioner has defended the employees and said their complaints were valid. In a May 3 email to Air India officials seen by NDTV, Ashok Perumalla, the Regional Labor Commissioner in New Delhi, said that "mismanagement and blatant violations of labour laws were apparent."

According to Perumulla, the management of Air India Express has not sent "any responsible decision-makers to any of the conciliation proceedings." The official added that the Human Resources department also tried "to mislead the conciliation officer with the wrong information and an idiotic interpretation of legal provisions."

Perumulla called for corrective measures and suggested that the airline set up a high-level committee to examine the workers' grievances.

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