Congress MP Raises Alarm Over IndiGo Flight Cancellations
Concerns Over IndiGo Flight Disruptions
On Saturday, Congress MP Rajeev Shukla expressed serious concerns regarding the mass cancellations of IndiGo flights. He highlighted that thousands of passengers are stranded at airports and criticized the government for not providing adequate support to those affected.
In a conversation with a news outlet, Shukla also voiced his worries about the rising airfares following the disruptions in flight operations. He accused the situation of being exploitative and urged the government to intervene to keep flight prices in check. "This is a matter of concern. Thousands, if not millions, are stuck at airports without any assistance from the government. Therefore, we are pressing for immediate relief," he stated.
Operational Challenges and Passenger Impact
He noted that the government had recently revoked the flight duty time limit order, yet IndiGo indicated that it would take another 10 days for operations to return to normal. During this period, passengers will continue to face difficulties and losses. Shukla suggested increasing the number of Air India flights and coordinating with other airlines like SpiceJet and Akasa to accommodate more travelers. He emphasized the need to control airfares, stating that exploitation is ongoing and must be stopped.
On Saturday, IndiGo's operations were severely disrupted across India, with over 100 flights canceled, leaving thousands of passengers stranded at airports in cities such as Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Guwahati.
Passenger Complaints Amid Flight Cancellations
Due to the widespread flight disruptions, passengers reported last-minute alerts, lack of communication, and long queues. The highest number of cancellations was recorded at Delhi Airport, where officials confirmed that by Saturday morning, IndiGo had canceled 54 departures and 52 arrivals, totaling 106 flights. According to the airline's operational updates, by 9:00 AM, IndiGo reported 109 cancellations nationwide, including 51 arrivals and 58 departures.
Hyderabad Airport's GMR confirmed that IndiGo planned 69 cancellations for Saturday, comprising 26 incoming and 43 outgoing flights, further affecting overall airport operations. Long queues were also observed at Kolkata's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport. A passenger named Manas, who had booked a flight to Lucknow with IndiGo, shared his frustration, stating he received no prior notification from the airline and only learned about the cancellation upon arriving at the airport.