The All India Cabin Crew Association has labeled Tata Group-owned Air India’s room-sharing policy for certain cabin crew members as “illegal, bad in law, and void ab initio on multiple fronts. The association has called on the Labour Ministry to intervene and halt the implementation of this policy.
The association is advocating for these entitlements—hotel accommodations and related conditions—to align with the established policy for pilots, as outlined in previous agreements and tribunal awards.
Additionally, the association has reached out to Air India Chief Campbell Wilson, urging him “not to violate” the current status quo and to uphold the integrity of the Industrial Tribunal and the ongoing industrial dispute surrounding this matter.
What is Air India’s room sharing policy?
Under the new policy set to take effect on December 1, cabin crew members will be required to share rooms during layovers, with the exception of cabin executives and those operating ultra-long-haul flights, in anticipation of the merger with Vistara scheduled for November 11.
Cabin crew on ultra-long-haul flights will be provided with single rooms during layovers, including during unscheduled layovers due to flight diversions, according to internal communications. Generally, ultra-long-haul flights are defined as those lasting 16 hours or more, with Air India operating such routes to North America.
Cabin executives, who are senior crew members with approximately eight years of flying experience, will also receive single rooms during layovers, as noted in the internal communications.
Following the merger, Air India and Vistara will collectively employ around 25,000 staff, including approximately 12,000 cabin crew members.
“Without prejudice, at the very onset, we must protest this and place our opposition on record, to this draconian move, and state that this is an illegal move, and also a change in conditions of service under the IESO–(Industrial Employees Standing Orders Act), under which the establishment is bound, other than during the pendency of NIT and Industrial Dispute,” the association said in a notice to Chief Labour Commissioner (CLC) New Delhi.
(With PTI inputs)
