IndiGo Flight Cancellations Lead to Railway Response with Extra Coaches and Special Trains
IndiGo Crisis: Over 1,000 Flights Canceled, Passengers Express Outrage
India's largest airline, IndiGo, faced a significant crisis on Friday, resulting in the cancellation of more than 1,000 flights, causing chaos at airports nationwide. Major hubs like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai saw thousands of stranded passengers, while ticket prices for other airlines surged.
In response to this situation, Indian Railways stepped in to provide immediate relief. The railway authorities added 116 extra coaches to 37 trains, aiming to assist affected travelers. This initiative is expected to benefit approximately 489,000 passengers.
IndiGo's Ongoing Issues and Passenger Frustration
The crisis at IndiGo had been building for several days but peaked on Friday. All 235 domestic flights from Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi were canceled, with over 1,000 flights affected across the country. CEO Peter Elbers described the situation as a necessary 'reboot' to stabilize operations, assuring that cancellations would drop below 1,000 on Saturday and normalcy would return by December 10-15.
The airline attributed the disruptions to a shortage of pilots, adverse weather, technical issues, and new Flight Duty Time Limit (FDTL) regulations. The second phase of FDTL, which began in November, imposed stricter night duty rules for pilots, a transition that IndiGo reportedly did not manage effectively. Pilot unions criticized the airline for maintaining a low staffing policy, which they claim led to the current predicament.
Railway's Swift Action: Additional Coaches and Special Trains
As air travelers turned to railways for alternatives, the Ministry of Railways quickly responded by adding extra coaches to accommodate the surge in demand. Starting December 6, the additional coaches will allow for 114 more trips, providing space for 4,000 passengers per trip.
Southern Railway added chair car and sleeper class coaches on 18 trains, while Western Railway introduced AC coaches on four trains heading to Delhi. Eastern Railway and East-Central Railway also made adjustments to their services to cater to the increased passenger load.
Special Train Services Announced
In addition to the extra coaches, several special trains have been announced to assist stranded passengers. These include a one-way reserved superfast train from Hazrat Nizamuddin to Thiruvananthapuram Central on December 6 and a demand-based service from Sabarmati to Delhi from December 7-10.
North Western Railway also revealed plans for two special trains, enhancing connectivity between Jaipur and Bandra Terminus, with multiple stops along the route.
Railway Officials Ensure Passenger Convenience
Officials from Northern Railway emphasized their commitment to ensuring passenger convenience, with additional coaches being added on routes connecting major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Howrah. A Southern Railway representative noted the increased crowding at railway stations due to flight cancellations and assured that they are monitoring the situation closely, ready to deploy more special trains if necessary.