desk
Share
News Topical, Digital Desk : IndiGo flight disruptions continue for the sixth day, with the airline hoping to return to normal operations by December 10. The ongoing crisis has caused widespread disruption, with many passengers stranded at airports in several cities due to flight cancellations, delays, and other major operational issues.
However, the airline announced plans to operate more than 1,650 flights by the end of the day and assured that refunds are being issued. The Ministry of Civil Aviation said that a total of ₹610 crore in refunds have been processed so far following the disruptions to IndiGo flights.
These are the main updates
Numerous flights were cancelled in several cities. IndiGo cancelled 650 flights on Sunday and plans to operate 1,650 of its 2,300 daily flights on December 7, as disruptions continued for the sixth consecutive day.
More than 220 flights were canceled at Delhi and Mumbai airports while efforts were underway to normalize operations. The ongoing crisis has led to hundreds of flight cancellations and delays over the past few days, causing significant inconvenience to thousands of travelers.
According to news agency PTI, at least 112 flights were cancelled at Mumbai airport on Sunday and 109 at Delhi airport. The last few days have been difficult for airlines.
After cancelling nearly 1,600 of its 2,300 daily flights on Friday, disruptions eased slightly on Saturday, with cancellations falling to around 800. An airport official confirmed that IndiGo also canceled nine flights at MBB Airport on Sunday.
The airline is operating 1,650 flights today.
IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers on Sunday said the airline will operate around 1,650 flights a day as operations gradually return to normal after days of massive cancellations and delays that caused inconvenience to thousands of passengers across the country.
In an internal video message sent to staff from the airline's operational control center, Albers said the airline's on-time performance (OTP) is expected to be around 75 percent on Sunday. According to IndiGo, 137 of its 138 destinations are operational today.
Passengers lost their temper
Thousands of passengers have been affected by widespread cancellations, delays, and other operational problems. Many passengers have vented their anger at ground staff at the airport. Several videos circulating online show passengers engaging in physical violence with staff.
Passengers at various airports also reported being stranded and having their plans disrupted. At Delhi airport, a passenger said he was supposed to return on Friday but was stuck at Patna airport and was only able to reach Delhi on Sunday. Amid the chaos, some passengers tried to cheer up their fellow sufferers with recreational activities like singing and dancing.
Indigo was given a two-day deadline
On Saturday, the government came down heavily on IndiGo and other airlines for overcharging amid massive flight cancellations, capping domestic airfares at Rs 18,000 (excluding UDF, passenger security fee and taxes).
In a late evening meeting, Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha summoned IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers and other top officials to Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan and gave the airline just two days instead of the earlier 21 days to fully resume operations.
IndiGo has been ordered to refund cancelled tickets by 8 pm on December 7 and return checked-in baggage within two days. IndiGo hopes to return to some stability by December 10.
Railways took steps
The Railways has announced 89 special trains across all zones starting Saturday for the next three days to help passengers affected by IndiGo's massive flight cancellations. Officials said these trains, which together will make more than 100 trips, have been arranged at short notice after reviewing traffic conditions in major cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Patna and Howrah.
--Advertisement--
