Air India Express cancels 16 more flights as cabin staff crisis continues; airline offers refund, rescheduling

The cabin staff crisis continued with Air India Express as the airline cancelled 16 flights on Wednesday (May 8, 2024).

The airline said that due to a shortage of cabin crew, eight departures and as many arrivals have been cancelled from 4 am to 4 pm on Wednesday.

Passengers can apply for teh refund through the website and the app.

Assistance will also be available at airport counters, the airline said.

Earlier, as many as 76 Air India Express domestic/international flights had been cancelled as the cabin staff of the airline went on sudden leave. 

The airline informed that as many as 300 staff members are on sudden leave.

An Air India Express spokesperson apologised for the delay and said that guests affected due to flight cancellations will be offered a full refund or complimentary rescheduling to another date.

"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, said the spokesperson.

"We sincerely apologise to our guests for this unexpected disruption and emphasise that this situation does not reflect the standard of service we strive to provide. Guests impacted by cancellations will be offered a full refund or complimentary rescheduling to another date," the spokesperson said further.

"Guests flying with us today are requested to check if their flight is affected, before heading to the airport." 

Passengers furious

As flights got cancelled, a number of passengers appeared furious and vent their ire on X. 

Hi @AirIndiaX. It's regarding the uninformed sudden cancellations of dom flights. My sr citizen parents were to catch an int'l flight from BLR but couldn't reach there from TRV. Pls resolve. Pls check your DM for details. https://t.co/9fh1pzgNQI

— Anoop (@anoopgovind) May 8, 2024

Hi Sanjay, we apologise for any inconvenience. Please be informed that your flight has been canceled due to operational reasons. As part of our service recovery process, you can either opt to reschedule the flight within the next 7 days or request a full refund through (1/2)

— Air India Express (@AirIndiaX) May 8, 2024