Chennai, Dec 11 (NationPress) The city continues to face significant flight disruptions for the tenth consecutive day, as IndiGo Airlines has cancelled a total of 36 flights on Thursday.

Airport officials reported that the cancellations consisted of 24 departures and 12 arrivals, adding to the mounting frustration of passengers who have been enduring ongoing delays and uncertainty since the start of the month.

IndiGo has encountered a nationwide operational crisis since December 1, primarily due to severe staff shortages and an increasing deficit of pilots. These challenges have hampered the airline’s ability to uphold its regular schedule, leading to widespread delays, unexpected cancellations, and overcrowding at numerous major airports.

Chennai, one of the busiest hubs for IndiGo in southern India, has been particularly hard hit.

Passengers arriving at Chennai airport over the past week have described instances of confusion and disorder, with lengthy queues at ticket counters, overcrowded waiting areas, and a lack of clear communication from the airline.

Many travelers reported receiving last-minute cancellation notifications only after they arrived at the airport, compelling them to search for alternative flights or rebook journeys at significantly elevated prices.

Airport authorities also experienced difficulties in managing the crowd, as recurrent cancellations created bottlenecks at security gates and customer service desks.

On Thursday, domestic flights to major cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad were cancelled, along with services to Patna, Bhubaneswar, Kochi, Kolkata, and Coimbatore.

International flights from Chennai also continued to face challenges, with services to Singapore and Penang cancelled for the day. Several incoming flights from Singapore, Penang, Jaipur, Bengaluru, Coimbatore, Delhi, and Mumbai were also withdrawn from the schedule, impacting hundreds of passengers.

The disruptions followed a particularly challenging Wednesday, when as many as 70 IndiGo flights were cancelled at Chennai airport alone - a number that sent shockwaves through the travel industry and left thousands stranded.

While Thursday’s lower number of cancellations provided slight relief, airport officials indicate that the situation remains unpredictable, and further disruptions cannot be dismissed until the airline resolves its staffing issues. With travel demand increasing towards the year-end, the prolonged turbulence in IndiGo’s operations has raised serious concerns among passengers and aviation authorities.