Passengers Stranded for Hours at Pune Airport
More than 150 travelers on an Akasa Air flight bound for Ahmedabad experienced a grueling wait at Pune airport on Saturday evening. The ordeal lasted nearly 11 hours due to significant delays, poor communication, and constant changes to gate numbers.
Flight Details and Initial Delays
The flight, numbered QP-1509, was originally scheduled to depart Pune at 10:10 PM and arrive in Ahmedabad by 11:45 PM. Sanjiv Patil, a resident of Wagholi, was among the affected passengers. He received a message about a delay while en route to the airport, pushing the takeoff to 11:20 PM. Upon arrival, the airline further postponed it to 11:55 PM.
Passengers faced confusion as gate numbers shifted from 5 to 7 and then to 9. Around 11:40 PM, they learned of another deferment, with a new departure time set for 12:30 AM. However, boarding did not occur at that time either.
Mounting Frustration and Cancellation
At 1:30 AM, flyers were directed to gate 7, only to find an IndiGo flight boarding there. Staff informed them the gate was occupied, leading to further delays. Patil noted that passengers grew impatient as the operator failed to provide clear updates.
An official later explained the root causes. The aircraft, coming from Delhi, faced delays due to unavailable parking bays. Additionally, the pilot's duty hours expired upon landing, prompting a decision not to fly. Passengers observed the pilot leaving the area.
Requests for an alternative flight were denied by the airline. By 3:30 AM, the flight was officially cancelled. Options for refunds were offered, but last-minute fares on other flights soared to around Rs 15,000, adding to the travelers' woes.
Airline Response and Passenger Accounts
In a statement, Akasa Air claimed cancellation information was communicated at 12:30 AM. They cited operational reasons and crew duty time limitations, emphasizing compliance with safety regulations. The airline stated that ground teams kept passengers informed, provided refreshments, and arranged hotel accommodations.
An additional flight, QP 6950, was scheduled, departing Pune at 9:10 AM and landing in Ahmedabad at 10:45 AM on Sunday. However, passenger accounts painted a different picture. Refreshments were served only around 5:00 AM, after hours of waiting.
Anger and frustration led to frequent arguments among flyers. Boarding finally occurred around 8:45 AM. Patil mentioned that he left Ahmedabad airport by 11:30 AM, traveling 50 km to reach home. The group included senior citizens, women, and infants, all of whom suffered through the lengthy delay.
Hotel Accommodation Issues
Het Mehta, another passenger from Ahmedabad, revealed that they learned about the cancellation through social media, not from the airline. Some passengers were taken to a hotel via a bus that arrived half an hour late, only to find it fully booked. They were then redirected to another hotel.
By the time they reached the hotel, it was nearly 6:00 AM. They had to return to the airport shortly after for the 9:00 AM flight, leaving little time for rest.
This incident highlights significant disruptions in air travel, affecting numerous passengers and raising questions about airline communication and contingency planning.
