Why Are IndiGo Passengers Facing Unprecedented Cancellations and Delays?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- IndiGo is facing significant operational disruptions, impacting thousands of travelers.
- The airline has promised refunds for all cancelled flights.
- A government committee is investigating the crisis.
- Passengers are advised to seek clear communication from the airline.
- Restoring normal operations is a priority for both IndiGo and the government.
New Delhi, Dec 6 (NationPress) Passengers flying with IndiGo are still experiencing significant disruptions on Saturday, marking the fifth day of cancellations and delays for all domestic flights from Delhi. This ongoing situation has impacted tens of thousands of travelers, many of whom are grappling with extended uncertainty, rising costs, and a lack of transparent communication.
IANS interviewed several individuals at Delhi Airport who detailed the challenges they have faced.
One traveler expressed, “I had a commitment in Agartala. I was meant to fly yesterday, but my flight was cancelled. I purchased another ticket for today, and the CISF personnel assured me the flight would go ahead. However, at the check-in counter, I was told the flight was cancelled once more. They informed me that I would not receive any ticket until after December 8. I requested a refund for the amount paid.”
Another traveler shared a more troubling tale. “I have been stranded at the airport for four days. They keep pushing my flight to a later time. Upon arriving to drop off my luggage, I discovered my flight was cancelled without any notification. They rescheduled it for the following day, only to cancel that too. This morning’s flight was also cancelled. As a neuro patient, I felt faint and collapsed. I was taken to Medanta. The staff indicated I would receive a refund since my flight was cancelled, but I was later contacted to board the flight instead. There’s been no clear resolution or refund offered.”
On Friday, IndiGo extended an apology for the widespread disruptions and promised that refunds would be processed for all cancelled flights.
The chaos is mainly due to a sudden pilot shortage, likely stemming from planning missteps. Aviation authorities are closely observing the situation as the airline seeks to restore operations. IndiGo, which operates about 2,300 flights daily with a fleet exceeding 400 aircraft, has seen its on-time performance decline sharply amid this operational crisis—a situation that may take several more days to rectify.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has established a high-level committee to thoroughly investigate the circumstances leading to the disruptions and evaluate the airline’s operational readiness.
Meanwhile, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu stated on Saturday that the government's immediate objective is to restore normalcy and offer all necessary support to affected passengers.
“We have formed a committee that will investigate this matter to determine where the failures occurred and who is responsible. We will take appropriate action,” Naidu concluded.