IndiGo Flight Disruptions Leave Passengers Stranded: Stories of Those Affected at Chennai Airport

Chennai:

While IndiGo's service disruptions decreased at Chennai airport on Saturday following the Centre's relaxation of certain Flight Duty Time Limitations, numerous passengers continued to face hardships due to flight cancellations. Among those affected was a man rushing to join his family after his mother's passing, and a woman traveling to Goa to bless her niece at her wedding.

NDTV encountered a visibly distressed 40-year-old man at the airport who explained that he had lost his mother and needed to reach Lucknow urgently. "The airline has promised to accommodate me on an evening flight. I'm hoping to see my mother before her final rites," he shared.

Nearby, Sylvia and her husband were waiting in line at the customer service desk, desperately seeking a flight to Goa for her niece's wedding scheduled for Sunday. Their early morning flight had been cancelled, leaving the couple anxious about missing the important family event. Sylvia explained, "Since my brother has passed away, I need to attend and give my blessings during the wedding ceremony."

Trishila Jain was another passenger awaiting information about her flight, praying her family wouldn't miss their annual pilgrimage in Maharashtra after their morning flight to Mumbai was cancelled. "What exactly is the airline doing, and where are the authorities? They need to wake up and address the situation," Jain's mother expressed. When asked about passenger compensation, she added, "More than monetary compensation, they should value passengers' time."

International travelers have also experienced significant disruptions. As her husband waited in the queue, Derina from Russia expressed her concerns. The couple was scheduled to attend a spiritual retreat in Coimbatore and had already faced problems due to disruptions in Delhi. "I just want to return home safely. I'm worried about our return flight to Istanbul, which is also with IndiGo. We aren't receiving proper updates," she said.

The government has promised strict action against IndiGo, with sources indicating on Saturday that the Centre might push for CEO Pieter Elbers' removal. Passengers remain skeptical as the government has stated conditions should normalize within two to three days, while Elbers has suggested normalization might only occur by December 15.

(With inputs by Abinaya Kumarasamy)