Air travel services at Indore's Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Airport faced severe disruption for the fifth consecutive day on Sunday, with operational issues at Indigo Airlines continuing to cause major schedule upheavals.
Five Days of Widespread Cancellations
The prolonged turbulence in flight operations has now resulted in a staggering 125 flight cancellations over the last five days. This massive disruption is estimated to have impacted close to 50,000 passengers relying on the airport for their travel plans. While Sunday saw 24 flights cancelled (12 arrivals and 12 departures), this number marked a slight reduction compared to the figures from Friday and Saturday.
Proactive Alerts Ease Passenger Burden
In a conscious effort to manage the escalating crisis, Indigo Airlines initiated a system of sending SMS alerts to passengers whose flights were cancelled. This measure of prior notification proved crucial. It allowed many affected travellers to adjust their plans in advance, with many opting for road or rail transport to reach their destinations instead.
The impact of this communication was visible on the ground. "Unlike the previous four days, long queues of distressed people were less visible at the terminal on Sunday," stated a representative at the airport. The proactive information flow helped mitigate some of the chaos and confusion that typically follows such large-scale cancellations.
Unstable Schedules and Ongoing Issues
Despite the slight dip in cancellations on Sunday, the flight schedule at the airport remains highly unstable. The primary cause continues to be the operational issues faced by Indigo Airlines, a key operator at Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Airport. The airline has not yet provided a clear timeline for when normal operations will fully resume, leaving passengers in a state of uncertainty.
The situation highlights the vulnerability of air travel networks to disruptions from a major carrier. Passengers are advised to continue checking their flight status directly with the airline before heading to the airport and to explore alternative travel arrangements where possible until the schedule is firmly back on track.
