The operational turmoil at IndiGo Airlines reached a critical point at Indore's Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Airport this Saturday, marking the fourth straight day of severe disruptions. The airline was compelled to cancel 34 flights in a single day, deepening the travel crisis that has now affected tens of thousands.
Four Days of Disarray: A Mounting Toll
The scale of the disruption is staggering. Over the last four days, IndiGo has cancelled more than 100 flights and delayed another 70 from Indore. This cascading failure has impacted the plans of over 40,000 travellers so far. The airport terminals have turned into scenes of frustration, with passengers enduring hour-long waits both inside the building and outside lounge areas.
In a particularly aggravating trend, many travellers have been informed of their flight's cancellation only after they reached the boarding gate, leaving them stranded without timely alternatives. The inquiry counters of the airline are perpetually surrounded by long queues, which have become a permanent fixture as anxious passengers seek any update on their delayed or cancelled journeys.
Passenger Ordeals and Skyrocketing Costs
Passengers like Vishal Verma shared their exhausting experiences. "I was sitting at the airport for three hours," Verma said. "I had enquired at the counter multiple times, but they kept saying the flight will arrive soon." The delays on Saturday were extensive, ranging from one to three hours, severely hitting major routes.
Flights to Jaipur, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Jabalpur were delayed by up to three hours, while other departures faced one to two-and-a-half-hour hold-ups. This crisis has triggered a significant spike in airfares, with competing airlines capitalising on the sudden surge in demand. Stranded passengers are finding themselves forced to pay double the original price for last-minute bookings on other carriers or to abandon air travel altogether.
Dipanshu Gupta, who was heading to Mumbai, confirmed he had to book a bus ticket after his IndiGo flight was cancelled and fares on other airlines became exorbitant. Similarly, the five-member Gehlot family, visiting Indore for a wedding, rented a taxi for Hyderabad after their flight was cancelled for the second day in a row.
Widespread Fallout and a Hope for Normalcy
The ripple effects of this ongoing disruption are profound. Thousands of travellers have been forced to cancel or alter crucial wedding, business meeting, and holiday plans. The financial and emotional cost continues to mount with each passing day of uncertainty.
Facing intense scrutiny, the management of IndiGo Airlines has expressed hope that the flight schedule would stabilise and return to normal within the coming week. However, for the thousands already impacted, the wait for resolution and compensation continues amidst the chaos at Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Airport.
