Hundreds of air travelers found themselves in a severe predicament at Ranchi's Birsa Munda Airport over the weekend, as a wave of last-minute IndiGo flight cancellations left them with no viable option but to hire private cars at staggering costs to reach their homes.
Passengers Forced into Costly Road Journeys
The ongoing operational issues with IndiGo showed no signs of abating, leading to a chaotic scene at the airport. Passengers bound for major metropolitan hubs including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Pune were compelled to seek alternative road transport after their flights were abruptly called off. With limited options, car rental services became the only recourse, but at a premium price.
Rental operators began charging between Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000 for a single long-distance trip, with the final amount varying based on the destination and the type of vehicle. This surge in demand created a seller's market, putting immense financial pressure on stranded families and business travelers alike.
Personal Ordeals Highlight Systemic Failure
Speaking about her distressing experience, Neetu Singh, a passenger trying to get to Delhi, revealed her ordeal. Her IndiGo flight, originally scheduled for Friday, was cancelled. The airline rebooked her on a Saturday flight, which also met the same fate. “I had to rent a car for Rs 50,000 as my kids’ exams are scheduled on Monday,” she stated, underscoring the personal urgency that forced her hand.
Another traveler, Ravi Kumar, a Mumbai resident on an official tour, faced a similar last-minute cancellation of his 8:25 am flight on Saturday. “I rented a car for Rs 52,000 as I have to reach Mumbai by Monday,” he told sources, highlighting the non-negotiable commitments that air passengers often have.
Rental Operators Stretched to the Limit
The unprecedented demand completely drained the local rental car fleet. Kunal Shah, a rental service owner, confirmed the situation. He mentioned that a trip to Delhi in a seven-seater now costs Rs 50,000 to Rs 55,000, a fare he argued was lower than current last-minute flight tickets. “Several operators have deployed their entire fleet on long-distance routes. But we don’t have enough vehicles to meet the surge in demand,” Shah explained, adding that he alone had made six trips to Delhi, Pune, and Kolkata since Friday.
The crisis also impacted tourists who had initially hired vehicles for local sightseeing. Pintu Barnwal, another service provider, detailed that he received bookings for one trip each to Pune, Nagpur, and Delhi, and two to Kolkata on Saturday. “All the customers were tourists... When their return flights got cancelled, they called us for seven-seater vehicles by making a payment of Rs 22 per km,” Barnwal said. This shift from local tourism to emergency inter-city transport illustrates the ripple effect of the flight disruptions.
The incident at Birsa Munda Airport raises serious questions about airline contingency planning and passenger rights during operational meltdowns. While car rentals provided an escape valve, the exorbitant cost and logistical nightmare place an unfair burden on travelers, turning a routine journey into a financially draining crisis.
