Travel chaos that began at Mumbai's international airport has now severely impacted air passengers in the central Indian cities of Bhopal and Indore. Domestic carrier IndiGo, citing operational challenges, technical issues, and schedule changes, cancelled a significant number of flights on Thursday, December 3rd and 4th, leaving flyers distressed and angry.
Bhopal Airport: Three Key Flights Axed
An official at the Raja Bhoj Airport in Bhopal confirmed the cancellation of three IndiGo flights scheduled for Thursday night. The affected services included flights to Bengaluru (8:30 PM), Delhi (9:30 PM), and Pune (3:00 AM). When questioned about rescheduling options and accommodation for the inconvenienced passengers, the official stated that such decisions were entirely at the discretion of the airline.
The human cost of these disruptions was starkly highlighted by the experience of passenger Himanshu Nitnavare. He arrived in Bhopal on December 2nd for work but found himself stranded for the next two days after his 10 PM IndiGo flight was cancelled. "With hotels fully booked due to the wedding season, I struggled to find accommodation. I was forced to change hotels for three separate nights, which left a big hole in my pocket," Nitnavare told reporters, encapsulating the financial and logistical nightmare faced by many.
Indore's Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Airport Paralyzed
The situation was equally dire at Indore's Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Airport, where IndiGo is the largest operator. Passengers, particularly those with connecting international flights, faced immense hardship. On Thursday alone, at least 9 IndiGo flights were cancelled, and an additional 14 were delayed by anywhere from 30 minutes to a staggering 4 hours. The cancellations hit major routes connecting Indore to key metropolitan areas across the country, causing a ripple effect of travel plans.
Widespread Operational Meltdown
This incident in Central India appears to be a spillover of a larger operational crisis faced by the airline. The problems reportedly started on Wednesday with bulk cancellations from Mumbai, attributed by the airline to a combination of factors including minor technical glitches and necessary schedule changes. The failure to contain these disruptions led to the cascading effect felt in Bhopal and Indore, raising serious questions about contingency planning and passenger communication.
The episode underscores the vulnerability of India's air travel network when a major player like IndiGo faces operational hurdles. Passengers are now demanding greater accountability, timely information, and proper compensation for the significant disruption and unexpected expenses incurred due to these last-minute cancellations.
