No end to woes at airports: IndiGo cancels 73 flights from Bengaluru; more cancellations likely in Hyderabad

Chaos continued at several major airports on Thursday as India's largest airline, IndiGo, cancelled more flights.

A spokesperson for the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru said that 73 IndiGo flights had been cancelled on December 4.

At least 150 flights were cancelled and dozens of others delayed on Wednesday, airport sources said, leaving thousands of travellers stranded, according to news agency Reuters.

KIA PRO said, "For the past two days, major disruptions in flight operations at Kempegowda International Airport, Terminal-1, have caused severe inconvenience to thousands of passengers. IndiGo Airlines has been the most. IndiGo Airlines has been the most affected, with flights delayed by several hours due to technical issues and a shortage of crew. Many passengers were forced to spend the night at the airport."

The PRO said, "Continuous delays and cancellations have led to Terminal-1 becoming overcrowded. Due to the shortage of seating, many passengers were compelled to sit on the floor. Elderly travellers and families with children faced significant difficulties. "

Quoting sources, the PRO said the primary reason for the chaos was IndiGo’s shortage of pilots and crew. "The re-implementation of FDTL (Flight Duty Time Limit) regulations and reduced crew availability have resulted in several flights being cancelled or rescheduled. This has affected IndiGo services not just in Bengaluru but across the country. Reports indicate that in the past 48 hours, more than 70 flights have been affected. Security personnel struggled to manage the situation and restore order."

Likely cancellations in Hyderabad

In Hyderabad, as many as 33 outbound Indigo flights are expected to be cancelled on Thursday, Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGAI) sources said, reported PTI.

Similarly, 35 incoming flights are also likely to be cancelled during the day, they said.

Indigo cancelled 19 flights from Hyderabad on Wednesday.

(With agency inputs)