The Civil Aviation Ministry declared on Saturday that operations at airports across India have stabilised and returned to normalcy. This announcement follows a period of severe disruption caused by a significant crew shortage at the country's largest carrier, IndiGo.
Massive Flight Cancellations Strand Thousands
The airline was forced to cancel a staggering number of flights, with over 1,600 cancellations on Friday and more than 800 on Saturday. This left thousands of travellers stranded at various airports. IndiGo, which typically operates a network of 2,300 flights daily, saw its schedule severely impacted. The ministry, in its official statement, assured the public that check-in and check-out processes are now proceeding smoothly and all necessary passenger facilities are in place.
Mumbai Airport's Proactive Passenger Support
In response to the crisis, Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) implemented a comprehensive set of measures to assist affected passengers. A dedicated task force was formed, combining staff from terminal operations, baggage handling, MIAL security, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), and IndiGo itself.
Key initiatives included:
- Deploying additional chairs across Terminals 1 and 2 for waiting passengers.
- Offering complimentary refreshments to those stranded.
- Increasing the number of terminal managers and customer service executives on duty.
- Setting up special exit gates to expedite the process for passengers with cancelled flights.
- Operating a 24/7 help desk to provide clear and timely information.
- Instructing airport outlets to maintain ample food and beverage supplies while monitoring pricing.
The task force's primary focus was to swiftly retrieve checked-in baggage from cancelled flights and ensure its prompt delivery to minimise passenger inconvenience.
Logistical Challenges and Aircraft Parking
MIAL acknowledged operational hurdles due to frequent rescheduling and limited information, which complicated stand availability and scheduling. However, the airport team is actively working to manage airside operations effectively. Despite space constraints at the busy Mumbai airport, special parking arrangements have been made to accommodate approximately 25 grounded IndiGo aircraft. Additional traffic marshals have also been deployed to ensure smooth vehicle movement in the car parking areas and exit zones.
The private airport operator stated that all these measures were designed to enhance passenger comfort, provide clear communication, and ensure seamless logistics during the challenging situation. The collective efforts appear to have restored order, bringing relief to the nation's air travel ecosystem.
