Hundreds of passengers from Indore have faced severe travel disruptions over the past two days due to a sudden surge in flight cancellations. The unexpected chaos has left families hosting weddings and business travelers scrambling for alternatives, incurring significant financial losses and logistical nightmares.
Wedding Plans in Disarray as Flights Vanish
The impact was acutely felt by an Indore-based family organizing a destination wedding in Goa. They had over 50 guests booked on two separate flights, which were cancelled on consecutive days. A family member, speaking anonymously, revealed the immense stress caused by these last-minute cancellations.
"We had no choice but to rebook tickets at exorbitantly higher prices," the family member said. "Some relatives managed to take connecting flights from Bhopal to attend, but many couldn't travel at all." The situation highlights how airline reliability directly affects major life events, turning celebration into crisis.
Unprecedented Spike in Cancellations Alarms Industry
Travel industry experts note a sharp and unusual increase in flight cancellations and delays since November. This period coincides with the peak wedding season and crucial year-end business trips, amplifying the fallout.
Hemendra Singh Jadon, Chairman of the Travel Agents Association of India's Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh chapter, confirmed the troubling trend. "While winter delays due to weather are common, the current number of cancellations is abnormally high," Jadon stated. "It is severely disrupting wedding schedules and business itineraries."
In response, travel agents are now advising clients to build substantial buffer time into their plans. "We are proactively creating longer gaps between connecting flights and recommending extra precautions for international travel," Jadon explained. The strategy aims to provide a window to book alternate flights if a last-minute cancellation occurs.
Passengers Stranded, Forced to Seek Road and Rail Options
The disruption was not limited to outgoing flights. Passengers trying to return to Indore also endured repeated setbacks. Pramod Nandwal, a builder traveling from Delhi, shared his harrowing experience.
His direct flight to Indore was cancelled after a prolonged delay. He then booked a connecting flight via Jaipur, only to have that cancelled as well. "I am stranded at the airport with no support from the airline," Nandwal said from Delhi. "I may have to return by road or train. Thankfully, I am alone, but many families with children are stuck here." His account underscores the lack of passenger support and communication during these operational failures.
The consecutive days of cancellations point to a broader systemic issue affecting air travel reliability from key cities like Indore. As the festive and business travel season peaks, passengers are being forced to factor in significant uncertainty, altering how they plan critical journeys.
