Dozens of flights canceled in India after crews take sick leave

By Ahmad Adil

NEW DELHI (AA) - Dozens of flights were canceled Wednesday after cabin crews took sick leave from Indian budget carrier Air India Express, according to the airline.

"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,” an Air India Express spokesperson said in a statement.

The airline sincerely apologizes to “our guests for this unexpected disruption and emphasizes that this situation does not reflect the standard of service we strive to provide,” he said. “Guests impacted by cancellations will be offered a full refund or complimentary rescheduling to another date.”

Air India Express sources told Anadolu that more than 80 flights were canceled, leading to disruptions after over 100 cabin crew reported sick.

The Indian Aviation Ministry said Wednesday that it has “called for a report from Air India Express regarding cancellation of flights, and asked them to resolve issues promptly.”

It also said the airline has been advised to ensure proper facilities for passengers.