The ailing airline has about 30,000 employees India's state-run airline Air India has cancelled 76 flights on the second day of strike action by employees who are protesting against a gagging order after Saturday's fatal air crash.
An Air India Express Boeing 737 from Dubai had crashed into a gorge in Mangalore, killing 158 people.
Striking employees are also protesting over a delayed payment of wages.
The management imposed a ban on union leaders talking to the media after critical stories following the crash.
Correspondents say the latest strike action is evidence of the troubles afflicting the loss-ridden airline and its friction between the management and its employees, belonging to a dozen unions.
Thousands of passengers have been stranded after the airline cancelled 76 domestic and international flights on Wednesday, reports say.
These includes flights from Mumbai, Delhi, Calcutta, Bangalore and international destinations like Kathmandu, Singapore, Bangkok and Dubai.
"The people have walked out in a flash," Air India spokesman K Swaminathan told the Associated Press news agency after the strike began on Tuesday evening.
The airline said that the strike was restricted to a section of ground workers.
'Poor timing'The leader of one of the striking unions JB Kadian told the Press Trust of India news agency that they had "begun a flash strike to protest the delay in payment of salaries and highlight the problems of the cabin crew".
Critics say the strike was 'poorly timed' The leader of a crew union of the airline said the strike was poorly timed.
"At a time when we are mourning the death of our colleagues and passengers, it's grossly incorrect," Sanjay Lazar said.
"It's a time for us to heal and move forward. All the bodies have not yet been identified."
Aviation analyst Kapil Kaul said that the strike by the employees, days after one of the worst accidents in its history, "reflects no concern for the organisation".
"It is a wake-up call for the government - the situation is so deep that their continuing inaction could be fatal for the company," Mr Kaul said.
He said that the government had given a $168m (£117m) bailout to the ailing airline and promised $252m (£175m) more.
Analysts say that the airline's 30,000 employees should be slashed by half to make it competitive.
Air India has a fleet of 136 aircraft flying to domestic and international destinations.
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