• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

IndiGo Flight Cancellations: The ongoing disruptions in air travel have left passengers stranded at major airports across India, with over 400 flights cancelled or delayed as of Friday. This marked the fourth consecutive day of severe flight cancellations, causing significant distress to travellers who now find themselves stuck at terminals with no clear answers. In response, IndiGo has issued a public apology, attributing the issues to operational difficulties and promising to reboot its systems in a bid to resolve the crisis by the weekend.

The flight disruptions have triggered outrage, with passengers, including those attending crucial family events, unable to board their flights. Among the affected individuals is Namita, a woman from Bengaluru who was attempting to take her father's ashes to Haridwar for a final ceremony. Stranded at Kempegowda International Airport, she expressed her frustration:

“I am carrying my father’s ashes with me. I was supposed to fly from Bengaluru to Delhi, and then to Dehradun today. After that, I had planned to go to Haridwar to immerse my father’s ashes tomorrow,” Namita said, holding an urn in her hands.

“I was informed the flight was cancelled without prior notice. Now, they’re saying there are no flights for today and have suggested I book with other airlines. But these airlines are charging as much as Rs 60,000 per person, which is far beyond what I can afford. There are five of us,” she continued.

Namita further noted that train and bus services were unavailable, leaving her family in a difficult situation. They had already booked train tickets from Haridwar to Jodhpur, but now those plans are in limbo.

The situation is no less dire for a group of 25 pilgrims who were stranded at an airport after their flight from Jeddah to Silchar was indefinitely delayed. Among them were elderly passengers, women, and children who struggled with basic needs, such as food and access to toilets. Ali Haider, one of the stranded passengers, explained the group's plight.

“Our flight was cancelled yesterday, forcing us to stay in Jeddah for an extra day. Now, we’ve finally reached here, but they’re not letting us board. I’ve heard our connecting flight is delayed again. We have no information on food or accommodation, and the IndiGo staff aren’t communicating with us. What are we supposed to do?” Haider said, clearly distressed by the lack of support.

In another case, a newlywed couple who had planned to travel from Bhubaneswar to Bengaluru and then to Hubballi for their reception were forced to attend their wedding virtually. After repeated delays, their flight was cancelled on December 3, leaving them no choice but to celebrate their reception online.

One more passenger, who had booked a flight from Bhubaneswar to Bengaluru, recounted his frustration after receiving conflicting information. “I got a message this morning saying everything was on time. When I checked in, they simply told me the flight was cancelled. They offered another flight for tomorrow, but that was cancelled too. Now, there’s no flight available this week. When I asked for a refund, they said it would come within a week, but I’m still waiting. Some passengers who were stranded last week haven’t received theirs either,” he said.

“What’s worse, they claimed the weather was to blame, but I find that hard to believe. I could have taken a train if they had informed us sooner,” he added. As a result, he was left contemplating whether to pay for an expensive taxi ride to his destination.

ALSO READ: IndiGo Flight Cancellations: Air Ticket Prices From Delhi To Mumbai, Bengaluru Surge To Over Rs 80,000 Amid Disruptions

IndiGo Faces Operational Struggles

The crisis at IndiGo reached a peak on Friday, with a staggering 700 cancellations reported marking the airline’s worst-ever single-day disruption in its 20-year history. Major airports, including those in Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai, have been overwhelmed with passengers facing delays, missing luggage, long queues, and inadequate customer service.

In response to the chaos, IndiGo released a statement apologising for the disruption. The airline expressed sympathy for the thousands of passengers affected and assured them that efforts are underway to restore operations.

“We deeply apologise for the inconvenience. We understand how difficult the last few days have been for many of you. While we work to get things back to normal, we assure you that we are doing everything in our power to support you during this time,” the airline’s statement read.

To ease the burden on those affected, IndiGo has implemented a range of measures, including:

- All cancelled flights will automatically process refunds to the original mode of payment.

- A full waiver on reschedules or cancellations for flights between December 5 and 15.

- Thousands of hotel rooms have been booked across various cities for passengers stranded due to cancellations.

ALSO READ: DGCA Withdraws New Pilot Rest Rules After IndiGo Flight Cancellation Triggers Chaos

- Alternative transport options have been arranged for affected travellers.

- For passengers stranded at airports, IndiGo is providing food and snacks.

- Wherever possible, senior citizens will be given lounge access to make their wait more comfortable.

- IndiGo has urged passengers to check their flight status on its official website and other communication channels, as well as advised against coming to the airport if their flight has been cancelled.

Also In News