Indigo cancels 20 flights from Raipur in 24 hours: Seven thousand passengers affected; scores stranded at airport
Raipur
India’s largest carrier, IndiGo, has cancelled approximately 20 flights to and from Raipur over the past 24 hours. The cancellations, attributed to a reported shortage of flight crew and pilots, have severely impacted nearly 7,000 passengers. The affected routes include major metropolitan centres such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Indore, Goa, and Kolkata.
On 6 December, three flightsโto Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Indoreโwere cancelled, further escalating passenger distress.
Stranded passengers reported facing significant difficulties, with many stating that the Airport Authority was not providing any clear information. Several hundred passengers were forced to stay overnight at the Raipur airport terminal.
Chaos at Airport Terminal
The situation was tense at the Swami Vivekananda Airport on 5 and 6 December, with IndiGo passengers registering the highest level of complaints. Many travellers scheduled to fly to Delhi and Mumbai had international connecting flights, which they were now at risk of missing. Furthermore, most evening flights on 6 December were also expected to remain cancelled.
Eyewitnesses reported heated arguments between passengers and IndiGo staff, leading to minor scuffles at the check-in counters.
Flights Cancelled on 6 December:
- Raipur-Hyderabad (6E 7352)
- Raipur-Mumbai (6E 6373)
- Raipur-Indore (6E 6129)
Passengers Stranded for Over 24 Hours
Over 100 passengers bound for Hyderabad and Chennai have been stranded at the airport for more than 24 hours. These travellers claimed they received no prior notification via email or SMS about the cancellations. They also alleged that the airline or airport management did not provide basic amenities like accommodation or meals. Passengers had to purchase their own tea, water, and snacks.
A band group scheduled to perform at a wedding in Jaipur faced losses running into lakhs of rupees after two programmes were cancelled due to their inability to travel. They stated that the bookings had been made six months in advance and that IndiGo offered no immediate resolution.
Business travellers and passengers with health-related urgency were also affected. A woman flying to Delhi could not reach her ill son. Additionally, many passengers travelling from Mumbai and Kolkata to foreign destinations had their business meetings and international connections severely disrupted.
Government and Airline Criticised
Angry passengers accused the government of granting airlines excessive freedom, allowing them to act arbitrarily. They demanded a full refund for all cancelled flights and complete compensation from the company for the additional financial and personal losses incurred.
IndiGo has not issued any official statement regarding the mass cancellations. Attempts by the media to seek clarification from both IndiGo and Airport Authority officials were unsuccessful. Officials from the Airport Authority of India directed queries towards IndiGo employees, while IndiGo staff were largely unavailable at the counters.
