Passenger chaos and widespread disruption gripped two major airports in Rajasthan on Thursday as multiple flights operated by IndiGo Airlines were abruptly cancelled. Travelers at Jaipur and Jaisalmer airports were left stranded for hours, with many receiving little to no prior information about the cancellations.
Widespread Disruption Across Key Routes
Airport officials confirmed that the cancellations were significant in number. At least eight IndiGo flights were cancelled from Jaipur airport, while two flights were axed from Jaisalmer airport. The ripple effect of these last-minute decisions caused considerable inconvenience to hundreds of passengers.
The routes affected from Jaipur included vital connections to major Indian cities. The cancellations impacted:
- Two flights to Hyderabad
- Two flights to Bengaluru
- One flight each to Chennai, Mumbai, Indore, and Kolkata
Sources indicated that passengers booked on the Jaipur to Kolkata service faced an extensive delay of approximately six hours, adding to the day's frustrations.
Official Reasons Behind the Cancellations
Airport authorities cited a combination of operational and regulatory issues leading to the crisis. The primary reason identified was duty-time limitations for pilots and cabin crew. Aviation safety rules strictly limit the number of hours crew can work, and these limits were reportedly reached, grounding the flights.
This core problem was severely exacerbated by an acute crew shortage, triggered by sudden roster changes and operational realignments within the airline. The lack of available staff to operate the flights left the airline with no option but to cancel services.
In Jaisalmer, the situation had a domino effect. Anil Jazoria, the acting director of Jaisalmer airport, explained that the cancellation of inbound flights from New Delhi and Bengaluru automatically led to the cancellation of the corresponding outbound flights to those destinations.
Passenger Anguish and Real-World Consequences
The human cost of the operational failure was stark. Passengers expressed deep frustration and anger, as the last-minute announcements wreaked havoc on their carefully laid plans.
"I was informed of the cancellation only after reaching the airport," said one aggrieved passenger at Jaipur airport. The disruption was particularly severe for those with critical commitments, including:
- Medical appointments
- Important examinations
- Urgent business meetings
The impact extended beyond individual travelers to affect business and tourism in the region. Mayank Kumar, a prominent tourism businessman in Jaisalmer, revealed that a major media group conference scheduled at his resort in Sam Sand Dunes had to be cancelled. The event was scrapped because key officials from New Delhi could not arrive due to the cancellation of IndiGo's flight from the capital.
This incident highlights the cascading effect of airline operational failures, disrupting not just travel but also economic and professional activities in connected cities. The episode raises serious questions about communication protocols and contingency planning by airlines to handle such crew-related disruptions, which passengers expect to be managed with greater transparency and efficiency.
