Airplay not working on Airport Express 2. Gen after updating iPhones/iPad to iOS 17.4.1 - requires re-start after playing one stream

Since updating to iOS 17.4.1 Airport Express (AE) 2. Gen. does not play Airplay streams. I can start one stream from e.g. iPad, when trying to start the next stream, i.e. after switching to another album or another streaming app, stream does not start and AE is not visible in Airplay devices anymore. One after re-starting AE plays one stream, then same again - next stream does not play and AE is not visible anymore.

This is extremely annoying obviously. Interestingly a very old AE 1. Gen does not seem to have a similar problem but runs as it should.

I have had confirmation that other users of apps like ROON on iPad are facing the very same issue. NB this issue I am experiencing is not exclusive to one or this app, so it does not appear related to one app.

Thank you for any advice.