'My Husband is Hospitalised': Chaos at Airports as Passengers Fume Amid Air India Express Flight Cancellations

Helpless and angry passengers spoke out on Wednesday after 80 Air India Express flights, domestic and international, were cancelled. This came after senior crew members of Air India Express went on a mass sick leave. The crew members started reporting sick since Monday evening, following which “scores of flights” were cancelled at various airports.

While the airline said it was trying its best to make sure there was no inconvenience caused, passengers suffered the brunt. There were videos of chaotic scenes at several airports as passengers sought answers and alternatives.

“I had to fly to Muscat today morning at around 8 am, but my flight was cancelled. I had to urgently leave for Muscat as there was a medical emergency. After an argument with the airline staff, I was provided with a ticket for tomorrow. The passengers have been informed that there are no tickets till 17th May and a refund will also be provided after 14 days,” said Amrita, a passenger at the Thiruvananthapuram airport in Kerala, who had to fly to attend to her sick husband.

In another video, an elderly passenger complained how they had no clue about their flight to Srinagar and how there was no space at the Delhi airport to sit and wait. “They haven’t even provided enough chairs for the passengers to sit and wait. Even the toilets are so far,” she said.

Among those who had to bear the brunt of the flight cancellations was DPAP chief and former civil aviation minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. “I was supposed to leave in the morning. But I am now leaving on an IndiGo flight after sitting here for 3-4 hours…If the flights were cancelled, they should have informed us in the morning itself. Why did they fool everyone?…Air India should be shut…Air India’s basic culture is bad, nothing will become of it,” he said.

A viral video on social media also showed passengers shouting at the airport staff at Delhi airport as Air India Express cancelled three flights to Goa, Guwahati and Srinagar and refused to provide any alternatives, as claimed by passengers. Similar scenes came from the Calicut airport where desperate passengers were seen seeking answers from the ground staff of Air India Express.

Civil Aviation Ministry Seeks Report, Airline Apologises

As passengers suffered, the Ministry of Civil Aviation called for a report from Air India Express regarding the cancellation of flights and asked them to resolve the issues promptly. The Ministry also advised the airline to ensure facilities to passengers as per DGCA norms.

Air India Express also issued an apology to passengers. “We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused by unprecedented flight delays and cancellations. While we are working hard to minimise disruptions, please check your flight status before heading to the airport,” the airline said in a statement.

This comes a month after similar cancellations due to mass sick leaves had hit Air Vistara. Vistara had to cancel over 90 flights in two days last month due to “unavailability of crew.”

As airlines grapple with issues with their crew, passengers remain the ultimate sufferers.

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