A major operational disruption at budget carrier IndiGo plunged air travel into chaos this week, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded and sending last-minute ticket prices to astronomical levels. The crisis, which began on Wednesday, saw a cascading effect of delays and cancellations, with Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International (SVPI) Airport becoming a focal point of passenger distress and exorbitant fares.
Operational Tailspin: Flights Grounded, Fares Skyrocket
The ripple effect of IndiGo's network issues was severe and immediate. Sources at SVPI Airport confirmed that 48 IndiGo flights, comprising 27 arrivals and 21 departures, were heavily delayed until 9 pm on Thursday. In addition, a further 14 flights were cancelled outright. This vacuum in capacity triggered a massive surge in airfares on other available flights, punishing passengers with no alternative but to pay up.
Routine routes suddenly carried jaw-dropping price tags. The typically affordable Mumbai-Ahmedabad sector briefly touched Rs 23,000 for a one-way ticket, while Delhi-Ahmedahabad fares climbed to around Rs 34,000. Travel industry experts noted that last-minute fares had doubled or tripled across the board, creating an unprecedented situation.
Passenger Nightmares: Lost Luggage, Endless Waits, and Costly Detours
The human cost of the disruption was stark, with harrowing tales emerging from the airport terminals. Hiren Shah, an Ahmedabad-based chartered accountant, endured a 22-hour ordeal trying to get home from the US. After landing in Mumbai at 1 am for a connecting IndiGo flight, he was trapped in a loop of delays. "I was barred from collecting luggage and given no certainty," he said. His flight was rescheduled multiple times via email before he finally took off past 8 pm, reaching Ahmedabad close to 9 pm. His baggage nightmare continued, with one bag arriving late at night and another still missing.
Other passengers faced similar desperation. Businessman Dinesh Shah and his partners, upon arriving at Mumbai airport for their Ahmedabad flight, found it cancelled. With crucial meetings the next morning and the few available seats priced around Rs 17,000 each, they were forced to hire a cab for an overnight road journey costing Rs 35,000 for four people.
Another passenger, Bhagirath Suthar, found his Delhi-Ahmedabad flight cancelled without warning. Faced with a next-option fare of Rs 23,000, he improvised a costly detour, flying first to Jodhpur and then to Ahmedabad, spending Rs 14,000 for a trip that normally costs a fraction.
Airport Chaos and the Path to Normalcy
On the ground, the scenes were chaotic. Terminals overflowed with frustrated passengers, queues at airline helpdesks stretched endlessly, and rebooking options were slim to non-existent. The disruption was not confined to IndiGo alone; sources indicated that operations of other airlines were also affected due to rotational delays triggered by the initial crisis.
In response to the mounting crisis, an IndiGo spokesperson stated, "Our teams are working diligently, with support from MOCA, DGCA, BCAS, AAI and airport operators, to minimise the cascading impact and restore normalcy at the earliest." The airline urged customers to check their website for the latest flight status before heading to the airport.
The incident highlights the fragility of air travel networks and the extreme financial and personal toll passengers bear when a major carrier experiences systemic failure. As airlines work to restore schedules, the debate over passenger rights and fare caps during such disruptions is likely to be reignited.
