Air India Express cancels 78 flights after cabin crew goes on 'mass sick leave'

• At least 86 Air India Express flights cancelled due to mass sick leave by cabin crew members
• About 300 senior cabin crew members reported sick at the last minute and switched off their mobile phones
• Airline assures affected passengers of full refund or complimentary rescheduling

Air India Express faced significant disruptions as at least 86 flights were cancelled after cabin crew members went on "mass sick leave", according to official sources on Wednesday. The cancellations affected both international and domestic flights after approximately 300 senior cabin crew members reported sick at the eleventh hour and became unreachable, switching off their mobile phones.

The management of Air India Express is actively attempting to communicate with the protesting crew, who are reportedly expressing grievances regarding new employment terms at the Tata Group-owned airline, as per sources familiar with the matter.

An Air India Express spokesperson addressed the situation, stating, "A section of our cabin crew has reported sick at the last minute, starting last night, resulting in flight delays and cancellations. While we are engaging with the crew to understand the reasons behind these occurrences, our teams are actively addressing this issue to minimise any inconvenience caused to our guests as a result."

In response to the cancellations, the airline assured affected passengers of options, stating that they would be offered a full refund or complimentary rescheduling to another date to mitigate any inconvenience caused.