The operations of Air India Express showed signs of improvement on Friday as more cabin crew members returned to duty following the conclusion of a significant strike that had caused widespread flight disruptions.
The strike, initiated by a section of the cabin crew on Tuesday night, resulted in the cancellation of over 170 flights.
However, on Thursday evening, the strike was called off, leading to the withdrawal of termination letters issued to 25 striking cabin crew members.
Air India Express, a subsidiary of the Tata Group, which operates approximately 380 flights daily, had to curtail its operations due to the strike.
However, officials stated that normalcy is expected to return within the next two days.
Cabin crew members who participated in the strike are rejoining duty, with the airline providing assistance in obtaining the required fitness certificates.
This step is crucial for them to resume their responsibilities.
An official noted that the majority of international flights operate in the evening, and operations in this sector are anticipated to improve with the availability of more cabin crew members.
On average, the airline operates 120 international flights and 260 domestic services daily, although there are variations in flight schedules on certain days.
In response to the cabin crew shortage, Air India Express had to cancel 85 flights, accounting for approximately 23 percent of its total daily capacity, on Thursday.
Following the resolution of the strike, the airline assured passengers of swift efforts to restore the flight schedule and apologized to those affected by the disruptions.
The strike was reportedly triggered by concerns over alleged mismanagement within the airline and disparities in the treatment of staff members.