Air India has fired more than 1,000 employees in the past three years over ethical violations, including those related to misuse of its employee leisure travel system, according to the airline’s president, Campbell Wilson.
Noting that hundreds of employees are terminated every year for non-compliance, Wilson also stressed that employees need to behave in the right way even when others are not looking.
As Air India implements cost-saving measures amid significant financial headwinds, Wilson made the remarks during a town hall meeting with employees on Friday, according to sources.
Air India, owned by the Tata group, now employs about 24,000 employees.
The airline’s CEO and managing director said that over the past three years, “we have terminated more than 1,000 people for ethical breaches” such as smuggling items off the plane and allowing excess baggage to board the plane without paying any fees.
He also mentioned hundreds of employees who misused the Employee Leisure Travel (ELT) system and added that such things should not happen.
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In March, sources told PTI that the airline discovered widespread discrepancies in the use of its leisure travel policy, involving more than 4,000 employees and initiated corrective action, including imposing penalties on erring employees.
Air India has resorted to cost-cutting measures, including withholding annual raises for employees and asking them to reduce discretionary spending as well as non-critical expenses, warning of “difficult times”.
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On Friday, Wilson told staff that it would be a “very difficult year” if things did not improve on the Middle East front.
The Air India group – Air India and Air India Express – is expected to incur more than… $Loss of Rs 22,000 crore in the financial year ending March 2026
