Kolkata, 04 December (H.S.):

For the past three days, continuous disruptions in flight operations have caused significant inconvenience to passengers. With winter travel at its peak, thousands of travellers are dependent on air services, but a series of cancellations by a major private airline has led to severe travel difficulties at both Kolkata and Durgapur airports.

On Thursday morning, a total of eleven flights were cancelled between six and ten in the morning at Kolkata Airport. Additionally, ten incoming and ten outgoing flights were delayed, leading to long queues and rising frustration among passengers.

At Durgapur’s Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport, Wednesday’s Mumbai-bound flight did not operate, and Thursday’s Chennai-bound flight was cancelled. According to airport authorities, flights on other routes are operating but with delays.

Airport Director Kailash Mandal said,

“On Wednesday, the Mumbai flight had to be cancelled, and today, the Chennai flight has been cancelled. Other services are operational, though running behind schedule.”

He refrained from commenting on the private airline and instead attributed the situation to winter weather conditions.

The repeated cancellations have triggered growing anger among passengers. A passenger at Durgapur Airport, Aseem Nandi, said he was scheduled to travel to Chennai for medical treatment but was informed in the morning that his flight had been cancelled. He expressed deep concern about how he would now continue his journey.

In its official statement, the airline cited adverse weather, technical issues, and revised duty-hour regulations for crew members as key reasons for the disruptions.

Under the revised guidelines, crew members are permitted to work eight hours a day, thirty-five hours a week, one hundred twenty-five hours a month, and a maximum of one thousand hours a year. Since the implementation of these rules, reports indicate a shortage of available crew, affecting flight schedules.

The situation has also raised questions as to why such extensive disruptions are occurring in December when the guidelines were issued a month ago. Authorities have yet to provide a clear explanation.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh