Air India Express sacks 30 employees, further action if leave continues

KANNUR: The Air India Express has taken strict action against the employees who took mass leave in protest against the management. 30 employees were sacked for their absence after taking medical leave. The company's assessment is that the unexpected leave was deliberated. Air India Express, in its dismissal letter to the cabin crew, clarified that the mass medical leave was premeditated and concerted abstention from work without any justifiable reason. 300 cabin crew members took mass sick leave.

Four flights from Kannur were cancelled in Kannur today following the strike. The passengers were informed that the Sharjah flight leaving at 4.20 am has been cancelled only at the last minute. The irate passengers then protested in the airport. Two Air India Express flights scheduled to depart from Kannur in the morning were cancelled yesterday. Muscat and Dammam flights were suspended yesterday.

The employees could not be contacted as they had switched off their mobile phones. Following that, 86 services were suspended yesterday. More than 20,000 passengers face difficulties as the services have been cancelled.

The unexpected strike that started Tuesday night is still continuing. The journey of many people, including those from Kerala to the Gulf, has been halted. There are people whose visas are to expire shortly and emergency travelers. The passengers came to know about the cancellation of the service only when they reached the airport.