• Source:JND
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IndiGo Crisis: The unprecedented chaotic situation due to the ongoing crisis in India's largest airline, IndiGo, at several airports in top cities, including Delhi, Metro and Bengaluru, continued on Saturday, as hundreds of flights were cancelled today, intensifying passengers' anger. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has taken urgent and proactive measures to address the ongoing disruption in flight schedules, particularly those of IndiGo Airlines.

1. IndiGo To Cancels Less Than 1,000 Flights On Saturday: IndiGo CEO

IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers said the airline expects to have less than 1,000 flight cancellations on Saturday and that the situation is anticipated to normalise between December 10-15. Elbers, in a video message, apologised for the major inconvenience caused to the passengers due to the disruptions.

"Regrettably, earlier measures of the last few days have proven not to be enough. So we decided today for a reboot of all our systems and schedules, resulting in the highest number of cancellations so far, but imperative for progressive improvements starting tomorrow onwards. With these actions, we expect tomorrow to have cancellations below 1,000. The support of DGCA, in providing specific FDTL implementation relief, is of great help," Elbers said.

ALSO READ: IndiGo CEO Outlines Steps To Fix Chaos As Airline Cancels Over 1000 Flights, Says 'Full Normalcy Expected Between Dec 10-15'

2. Ram Mohan Naidu Reviews Aviation Ministry's Control Room

The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Friday said Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu visited the control room to personally review its functioning and assess coordination efforts. The Ministry said the review focused on ensuring seamless communication among all stakeholders, with special emphasis on providing timely and accurate information to passengers affected by widespread delays.

3. "No One From IndiGo Is Providing Any Answers...': Passenger Stuck At Jodhpur Airport

A large number of passengers faced inconvenience across the country, as IndiGo flights faced delays and cancellations. Amid the ongoing issue, a passenger who was scheduled to reach Bengaluru from the Jodhpur Airport shared that the airline has been unresponsive since morning.

4. Aviation Watchdog DGCA Provides Exemptions To Crisis-Hit IndiGo

Aviation watchdog DGCA provided a raft of exemptions to crisis-hit IndiGo to help normalise its operations, which have been disrupted for the fourth straight day. Apart from the Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) exemptions, the regulator has provided certain other relaxations that will help IndiGo have more pilots for duty to reduce the disruptions and normalise operations.

5. 'Dangerous Precedent': ALPA India slams DGCA

Pilots' body Airlines' Pilots Association (ALPA) India took "strong" objection to safety regulator DGCA's "selective and unsafe" relief to domestic carrier IndiGo, amid widescale cancellations, saying the decision sets a dangerous precedent. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation earlier in the day granted IndiGo temporary exemption from stricter night duty rules for pilots. In a letter to the DGCA on Friday, ALPA-India said the decision not only sets a "dangerous precedent" but also undermines the very principle and purpose of the civil aviation requirement under which the norms have been formulated.

ALSO READ: 'One Root Cause': PM Modi's Strong Message On Pahalgam, Crocus City Hall Attacks After Talks With Putin | WATCH 

6. Railways To Run Special Trains

Central Railway announced it will run six special trains on key long-distance routes on December 6 and 7 to clear the extra rush of passengers due to widespread flight cancellations across the country. Western Railway (WR) will also temporarily augment additional coaches to four long-distance trains to clear extra passenger rush in view of the surge in travel demand, a spokesperson said.

7. Fassengers Left In The Lurch In Srinagar

Chaotic scenes unfolded at the two Jammu and Kashmir airports after 16 IndiGo flights from Srinagar and 11 from Jammu were cancelled, prompting protests by hundreds of stranded passengers over the airline's alleged failure to respond to distress calls. IndiGo operations continued to witness disruptions nationwide due to pilot-rostering issues faced by the airline.

8. Airfares Skyrocket

Airfares reached levels never seen before on Friday, with a one-way one-stop economy-class SpiceJet Kolkata-Mumbai flight ticket for December 6 costing up to Rs 90,000, and a similar ticket of Air India for Mumbai-Bhubaneswar going up to Rs 84,485, according to the airlines' websites.

9. IndiGo Cancels 42 Flights At Pune Airport

IndiGo operated seven arrival flights and as many departure ones, but cancelled 42 outbound and inbound services at the Pune airport between midnight and 5 pm on Friday, an airport spokesperson said.

10. Lauren Gottlieb, Rahul Vaidya, Jay Bhanushali And Others Join Outrage

Amid the growing outrage, celebrities were also seen having their own travel plans derailed as many took to social media and expressed frustration over the indefinite waiting and delays at terminals. Lauren Gottlieb, Rahul Vaidya, Jay Bhanushali and others criticised the airlines over the crisis.
(With agencies inputs)

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