Passengers at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) faced severe disruption and chaos for a second consecutive day on Monday, as widespread flight delays and cancellations by budget carrier IndiGo left thousands stranded. The situation, which began on Sunday, escalated with long queues, frustrated travellers, and significant operational hurdles.
Massive Disruptions and Passenger Anguish
The core of the crisis involved significant schedule disruptions by IndiGo. The airline was forced to cancel a staggering 99 flights to and from Bengaluru on Monday alone. This followed a chaotic Sunday where over 55 IndiGo flights were cancelled at KIA. The cascading effect of these cancellations created a nightmare scenario within the airport terminals.
Passengers reported scenes of immense confusion and overcrowding. Counters were swamped with people seeking information, rebooking options, or refunds. Social media platforms were flooded with images and videos showing serpentine lines snaking through the departure and arrival areas, with many travellers expressing their exhaustion and anger online. The airline attributed the massive disruption primarily to unforeseen fog conditions in North India the previous day, which had a severe knock-on effect on aircraft and crew rotations nationwide.
Airline Response and Compounding Factors
In an official communication, IndiGo acknowledged the severe inconvenience caused to its passengers. A spokesperson cited the fog-related disruptions across its network as the primary trigger, which led to aircraft and crew being out of position. This, they explained, made it impossible to operate a normal schedule on Monday. The airline stated it was actively working to normalize operations and provided standard options for affected customers, including rescheduling on alternative flights or processing refunds.
However, passengers on the ground reported a gap between the airline's statements and the on-ground reality. Many complained of a lack of clear communication from IndiGo staff at the airport, insufficient support for those stranded, and long wait times to reach customer service. The situation was further compounded by the high passenger load typical for this time of year, amplifying the impact of each cancellation.
Broader Impact and Looking Ahead
The fallout from the two-day disruption was substantial. Beyond the immediate inconvenience to thousands of flyers, the event put a spotlight on the resilience of airline operations during India's winter fog season. While fog in the northern regions is an annual challenge, the scale of the cascading failure affecting a major hub like Bengaluru raised questions about contingency planning.
Other airlines operating from KIA also experienced some delays, but the scale of IndiGo's cancellations was unmatched. Airport authorities were compelled to manage the extraordinary crowd, focusing on maintaining basic order and facilitating communication where possible. As operations slowly stabilized through Monday evening, the incident served as a stark reminder of the fragility of complex airline networks and the paramount importance of robust communication and passenger care protocols during large-scale disruptions.
