Flying Low: Airlines struggle to cope with employee issues

Rashmi (not the real name), a lead cabin attendant with IndiGo, got a frantic call from her manager at 2 am last month when she said she was afflicted with a viral infection and was on sick leave.

“I was asked to withdraw my leave application and fly. If not, a flight would be one short of the requisite crew and wouldn’t be able to take off. It was a request and not a command. But she sounded desperate,” Rashmi told ET on condition of anonymity.