DGCA investigates Air India Express cabin crew strike that caused flight cancellations

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is investigating the Air India Express cabin crew strike in May, which resulted in numerous flight cancellations. Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu announced that penalties would be imposed on the airline if any regulatory non-compliance is found.

Addressing queries in the Lok Sabha regarding flight cancellations, Minister Naidu emphasised that Civil Aviation Requirements (CARs) are in place to ensure passengers receive compensation in case of delays or cancellations. "We acknowledge the issues with Air India Express, particularly related to its merger with AirAsia India, which led to a mass strike on May 7," said Naidu during the Question Hour. The strike caused significant flight cancellations.

The ministry intervened, and the DGCA facilitated discussions between the airline and crew members to resolve the issue. A software glitch compounded the problem by disrupting crew member data management, requiring manual data entry to restore normalcy.

Naidu reiterated that CARs are designed to protect passengers' rights and ensure they receive refunds or alternative flight arrangements when airlines fail to comply with regulations. He cited an example where a Rs 10 lakh penalty was imposed on Air India for guideline violations.

"The DGCA is thoroughly investigating the Air India Express strike incident. If any non-compliance is identified, we will penalize the airline to ensure passenger interests are prioritized," Naidu stated.

On May 7, around 200 Air India Express cabin crew members, part of the Tata Group, went on strike to protest alleged mismanagement, leading to the cancellation of hundreds of flights. The airline management responded by terminating 25 crew members and warning others to return to work or face similar consequences.

The strike ended on May 9 following a conciliation meeting between the cabin crew union representatives and the management, convened by the Chief Labour Commissioner (Central). The termination letters were subsequently withdrawn.

(With PTI inputs)