Chennai, 5 December (H.S.) : Chaos reigns at Chennai International Airport's T1 domestic terminal as IndiGo Airlines, India's largest carrier, cancels all flights until 11:59 PM today, stranding thousands of passengers in the third day of a crippling operational meltdown.
The disruptions, triggered by pilot rostering failures and new DGCA fatigue rules, have rippled across the nation, with over 1,000 cancellations reported today alone – surpassing yesterday's 550.
At Chennai's bustling hub, 31 flights were axed, including 20 departures to Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kochi, and international routes like Singapore. Arrivals from Kolkata, Jaipur, and New Delhi also ground to a halt.
We've been here since 2 AM, no food, no clarity, fumed Gyanindra Mishra, a Mumbai-bound seminar attendee now eyeing a ₹30,000 detour via Tirupati cab and flight.
Protests erupted at counters, with irate travelers confronting staff over absent accommodations and refunds. Airport visuals show serpentine queues snaking through the terminal, as security holds gates per IndiGo's request to manage check-in backlogs.
Nationally, Delhi saw all 235 flights scrubbed, Mumbai 104, Bengaluru 102, and Hyderabad 92. Goa and Ahmedabad reported 30 and 86 cuts, respectively. CEO Pieter Elbers apologized on X, citing cascading impacts but promising fewer than 1,000 cancellations tomorrow and full normalcy by December 15. The government launched a high-level probe, with a 24x7 control room activated.
Cancellation & Refund Process: IndiGo pledges automatic refunds to original payment modes within 7-10 days for affected bookings. No fees for cancellations or rescheduling from December 5-15.
Passengers must email support@goindigo.in with PNR details, or use the app's self-service portal. DGCA mandates meals, hotels for delays over 4 hours – yet complaints flood X of non-compliance.
Live Status: Check real-time updates at goindigo.in/check-flight-status or Chennai Airport's X (@aaichnairport). Alternate fares have skyrocketed – Delhi-Mumbai now ₹24,000 on Akasa Air.
As night falls, stranded souls huddle with phones, hoping for dawn's relief. IndiGo's woes expose aviation's fragility; regulators vow swift fixes. Stay tuned for updates.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Dr. R. B. Chaudhary
