Passengers from Kolkata and across Eastern India are facing a severe financial crisis due to a disturbing new trend in the aviation sector. Confirmed flight tickets are being abruptly cancelled by airlines, only for the same seats to be resold at exorbitant prices—sometimes nearly three to four times the original fare—when stranded travellers attempt to rebook just hours later.
Passenger Ordeals: Confirmed Tickets Vanish, Prices Skyrocket
The issue has moved beyond mere travel inconvenience, morphing into a significant financial burden. Tanima Mondal, who was booked on a Monday flight to Delhi from Kolkata, found her confirmed ticket cancelled without warning. "When I tried to rebook, the price skyrocketed. It feels like they're taking advantage of the situation," she expressed, capturing the sentiment of many.
Shibu Kumar Das, a resident of Agartala, shared a similar harrowing experience. He and his son had booked tickets to Agartala for Saturday at a cost of Rs 13,000. After the flight was cancelled, they were offered a refund in 7-10 working days with no option to reschedule. When Das tried to book a new ticket for the same flight the following Tuesday, the price had jumped to Rs 20,000. To add to the uncertainty, the airline could not guarantee the new flight would operate. "Why should I pay extra for a situation I did not create?" he questioned.
Tour Operators Bear the Brunt of 'Greed Circus'
The problem extends beyond individual travellers, severely impacting the tourism business. Tour operators, who handle bookings for both domestic and international clients, are being forced to absorb massive losses. Chandra Prakash Bhattar of Neptune Holidays did not mince words, calling it a "grand circus of greed."
He explained the unsustainable math: tickets originally purchased for Rs 5,000-6,000 are now being resold by airlines at Rs 20,000-25,000. Since tourists have already paid the original amount, the tour operators are compelled to cover the staggering difference. "Shouldn't the airline take responsibility for this loss?" Bhattar asked, highlighting a critical accountability gap in the industry.
Regulatory Intervention Demanded as Explanations Fall Short
Consumer advocacy groups are now urging regulators to step in and address what appears to be exploitative practice. While airlines like IndiGo have cited operational challenges and fluctuating demand as reasons for cancellations, these explanations provide little solace to those left in the lurch.
The logistical and financial strain is palpable. Mithun Asha's case is a stark example. She arrived in Kolkata from China with her 72-year-old mother on Friday, expecting a connecting flight to Pune the same evening. Their flight was cancelled and rescheduled three times. Stranded in Kolkata for two days, Asha revealed that IndiGo is now pushing her to cancel and accept a refund. However, booking a fresh ticket on the same carrier for a new date costs significantly more than the standard fare, trapping passengers in a lose-lose situation.
For countless passengers and businesses, the core question remains unanswered: How are airlines permitted to profit from invalidating a confirmed transaction and then reselling the same service at a massively inflated price? The call for transparency and fair practice in Indian aviation is growing louder by the day.
