IndiGo Flight Cancellations: How Passengers' Lives Were Disrupted at Chennai Airport

Many passengers were left without food or beverages as IndiGo's services collapsed.

Chennai:

For the third consecutive day, Chennai airport was engulfed not in the usual buzz of travel excitement but in an atmosphere of confusion, anxiety, and desperation as IndiGo's near-complete flight cancellations left countless travelers stranded. The situation deteriorated further today when CISF personnel blocked IndiGo passengers from entering the airport. Individuals with vacation plans, urgent travel needs, and important obligations suddenly found themselves without solutions or alternatives.

Among those affected was a couple traveling to Durgapur. The wife, employed by the government at IIT, was scheduled to begin her position yesterday. Due to the cancellation, she missed her start date. Having a young child with them made their predicament even more challenging.

She informed NDTV, "Communication was inadequate. They initially assured us that if flights were cancelled, alternative arrangements would be made. Now they claim no alternatives exist. We have no options since IndiGo is the only carrier serving this route."

The disruption extended beyond business travelers. Two young national medal-winning skaters from Trivandrum have been stranded in Chennai since yesterday evening. They were en route to Vizag for a national competition. After dedicating nearly a year to rigorous training, their opportunity was jeopardized. Following the cancellation, they resorted to booking ground transportation to Vizag – an exhausting 15-hour, 850-kilometer journey.

Their exhausted parents expressed frustration that many passengers weren't provided any refreshments by the airline.

The extended waiting, absence of guidance, and pressure to reach their destination created significant emotional stress. "We might arrive just an hour before competition begins," one father stated. He mentioned that event organizers had postponed the competition by one day due to the crisis. Another parent added, "I'm taking my skater daughter to Vizag by bus."

Nearby, Arun, a student from SRM University in Chennai, waited with his substantial luggage. He needed to return to Muscat to join his family for vacation. Initially informed his flight was scheduled for December 4th, he was later told it was on December 5th. Upon arriving at the airport this morning, he discovered his flight had been cancelled. His parents ultimately booked him on an alternative carrier at significant expense. Visibly frustrated, he remarked, "Everyone here is suffering. The biggest issue is the lack of proper communication. Nobody was informed in a timely manner."

Although the Director General of Civil Aviation has now relaxed the new regulations for IndiGo, which failed to adequately address the situation, passengers who endured this ordeal may still experience disruptions for several more days before flight schedules normalize. Many believe both IndiGo and the Civil Aviation Ministry should be held accountable for this disruption.

(With inputs from Abinaya Kumarasamy)