Following a recently announced crackdown on flight delays, Air India says it has suspended 17 flight attendants for allegedly delaying flights.
"These 17 cabin crew members were found to have delayed flights more than three times and they have been suspended," an AI official said.
Crew were suspended for citing an ‘inadequate’ rest period while on international flight duty.
However cabin crew sources say the suspended crew were adhering to the mandatory 22-hour rest period laid down by aviation regulator DGCA.
"Air India deploys the cabin crew who are on such flights, for a new flight citing another regulation. However, as per the DGCA, the 22-hour rest period norm cannot be over-ruled in any case," a source told local news media.
Flights affected included services to Delhi departing from London, Milan and Rome.
Air India has so far suspended or fired nearly 270 crew members including pilots and flight attendants for indiscipline which it says has resulted in improved on-time departure performance recently.
According to the latest data, Air India is now the third most punctual airline with 79% of flights departing on time.
