After a week of severe disruption and passenger distress, authorities at Chennai International Airport have signalled a turning point in the crisis triggered by a massive crew shortage at IndiGo. The worst of the operational chaos may now be behind us, with flight cancellations projected to steadily decrease in the coming days.
Operational Strain and Sunday's Status
While all 26 IndiGo aircraft stationed at Chennai airport were operational this past Sunday, the ripple effects of the preceding days' disruptions were still being felt acutely. The airport recorded approximately 91 cancellations of both arriving and departing flights. These flights were stranded at various airports across the country due to a critical lack of pilots or cabin crew members.
Sources within the Airport Authority of India (AAI) explained the path to recovery. They stated that both the stranded aircraft and the essential flight crews need to be repositioned to their designated base stations. This complex logistical process is estimated to take about five days, after which operations are expected to return to a normal schedule.
A Calmer Sunday and Passenger Relief Measures
In contrast to the scenes of chaos and commotion that dominated the airport throughout the previous week, Sunday presented a relatively calmer atmosphere. This was largely because affected passengers were proactively informed about cancelled flights and offered a clear resolution.
AAI sources confirmed that passengers have been asked to reschedule their journeys without incurring any additional cost. Travelers can reschedule their IndiGo flights any number of times until December 15 for free, providing significant flexibility during this recovery period.
Financial Impact and Airline's Response
The prolonged disruption has not been without financial consequence. Chennai airport is reported to have suffered losses due to significantly reduced passenger footfall and lower overall flight movements during the crisis week.
In an official statement, IndiGo acknowledged the challenges and outlined its corrective actions. The airline reported that its teams were working relentlessly to stabilise operations. On Sunday, IndiGo operated over 1,650 flights, an increase from the 1,500 flights managed on Saturday. The airline also assured that refund processes and luggage handling mechanisms, for both direct and indirect bookings, are functioning at full capacity to address passenger concerns.
As the aviation hub of Chennai works to clear the backlog, passengers are advised to check their flight status directly with the airline and utilise the free rescheduling facility available until mid-December.
