The last few days have not been smooth for IndiGo. The airline faced a major operational crisis, which led to the delay and cancellation of over 1,000 flights. Passengers were left stranded, and airport chaos videos are making waves online. On Saturday, IndiGo addressed the disruptions and announced that it had begun normal operations. Indian Railways has also stepped in with special trains and helpdesks to ease the situation. Here are all the latest updates you need to know.
IndiGo Refunds ₹610 Crore To Flyers
IndiGo is working day and night to bring the situation under control. On Saturday, the official page of the airline took to X and shared that they had cancelled a significant number of flights and operated ‘a little above 700 flights’ that day. According to them, their main objective was to reboot the network, systems and roster so they could start afresh. They also announced that over 95% of network connectivity had already been re-established.
According to a report by Hindustan Times, more than 400 IndiGo flights were cancelled today, Monday, December 8, as the airline’s operational crisis entered day seven. The Supreme Court also refused to hear a PIL against the IndiGo fiasco, stating that timely steps had already been taken.
The crisis was not only about IndiGo cancelling flights. It was also about passengers receiving last-minute updates, which left them stranded and frustrated at airports. According to a report by The Times of India, to control damage, IndiGo complied with government directives and processed refunds worth ₹610 crore by Sunday evening. The airline also said 3,000 passenger bags had been delivered. The pending refund amount, as well as the remaining undelivered baggage, were not disclosed.
Also Read: After 2,000+ Cancelled Flights Over 5 Days, IndiGo Announces 1,500+ Flights On Sunday
Railways Step In With Special Trains & Helpdesks
According to a report by Hindustan Times, Indian Railways has announced 89 special trains across all zones. They will operate to help people facing travel disruptions due to the ongoing mass cancellations by IndiGo. These trains were arranged at short notice in major cities after analysing the train traffic situation in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Patna and more. Authorities are expecting the number of special trains to increase depending on requirements. All zones have also been asked to use available resources to run these trains safely.
According to The Free Press Journal, even though IndiGo is working to control damage, flights are still being cancelled. At Mumbai Airport alone, 112 flights were cancelled on December 7. Now, authorities from Western and Central Railway have stepped in to help. Helpdesks have been set up at both T1 and T2 of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport to assist passengers with inquiries and bookings. A Superfast Special Train will also run between Mumbai Central and New Delhi.
According to News18, similar helpdesks were set up at Patna Airport and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad. Two special trains were also announced from Delhi to Ahmedabad.
Also Read: Rahul Vaidya, Jay Bhanushali, Aly Goni & More Bash IndiGo Over Mass Flight Cancellations
Refunds, helpdesks and special trains, authorities are doing everything they can to ease the ongoing trouble and help stranded passengers. Flyers are advised to remain calm and cooperate with authorities. We hope the situation comes under control soon.
Cover Image Courtesy: IndiGo, Wikipedia/ BriYYZ and @MABABYCPIM/ X
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