Passengers at Guwahati's Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport faced severe travel disruptions on Friday as a major operational crisis at IndiGo led to widespread flight cancellations and delays across the country.
Airport Descends into Chaos Amid Nationwide Disruption
By 6 pm on Friday, authorities had recorded a staggering 26 flight cancellations at Guwahati airport alone. The chaos was part of a larger nationwide disruption triggered after IndiGo, India's largest carrier, grounded all its domestic departures from Delhi airport until midnight. This decision had a domino effect, impacting key routes from Guwahati to major metropolitan hubs.
Travelers hoping to fly to Mumbai, Kolkata, Jaipur, Imphal, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Ahmedabad found their plans in disarray. The airport terminals were scenes of frustration and confusion as hundreds of passengers, including families, students, and elderly citizens, scrambled for information and alternatives.
DGCA Intervenes, Suspends Crew Duty Limits
In a late-afternoon intervention aimed at restoring normalcy, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) took decisive action. The regulator announced the immediate suspension of its Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) orders for IndiGo. This move was designed to provide the airline with operational flexibility to manage the crisis and reposition its crew.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu clarified the decision in a statement addressing the service disruption. He confirmed that the crew duty limits "have been placed in abeyance with immediate effect." Minister Naidu emphasized that this step was taken solely in the interest of passengers, particularly highlighting the plight of senior citizens, students, patients, and others who depend on reliable air travel for essential needs. He assured the public that passenger convenience was being prioritized without any compromise on air safety standards.
Passenger Support and the Road to Normalcy
For the multitude of passengers stranded in Guwahati and other cities, the immediate concerns centered on rebooking, refunds, and accommodation. IndiGo, in a statement expressing "profound apologies" to its customers and stakeholders, outlined the support being extended.
The airline has committed to assisting affected passengers through several measures:
- Providing refreshments and hotel accommodation where necessary.
- Assisting with luggage retrieval.
- Rebooking travelers on the next available flights.
- Offering full refunds where applicable.
IndiGo has assured that every possible effort is being made to minimise the inconvenience caused by these unforeseen events. Meanwhile, the broader aviation industry continues to grapple with the challenge of restoring full schedule normalcy. The incident has put a spotlight on operational resilience and passenger rights during large-scale disruptions in India's busy air travel market.
