Airmen staged massive protests at airports after being hit by widespread flight delays and cancellations by low-cost carrier IndiGo since Tuesday. At least 180 IndiGo flights have been canceled till date, leaving passengers at major airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune and Bengaluru angry and upset. At least 200 flights were canceled on Wednesday. Today marks the third day of chaos after India’s largest airline failed to adjust schedule planning enough to comply with new government regulations.
The volume of public nuisance and outrage online is clearly evident across social media platforms. The video shows frustrated travelers expressing their displeasure through chants of “Bandh Karo, Bandh Karo” (Stop, stop) and “Haye haye” expressions of dismay.
The video gained huge popularity on social media. Here’s how people responded:
One user wrote, “The best part is that IndiGo employees are not around, it’s CRPF.”
Another said: “Don’t do this nonsense at airports… if you are on the no-fly list then you can’t board a plane for life and it can have serious consequences for your career too… imagine your manager seeing you creating hungama (chaos) at the airport… boss, for God’s sake, grow up.”
A third user commented: “@indigo.6e is one of my favorite airlines 😍 please keep up your great service and try not to be disappointed by these things, I know you will get over it 🙌❤️ lots of love.”
Passengers shared on social media that the airline’s response during the crisis was not helpful.
“My IndiGo flight from Pune to Delhi is delayed by more than 3.5 hours. There are many flyers who are waiting at the airport for more than 12 hours,” said one user, while another added: “IndiGo flight mess at Pune airport. Shame on @IndiGo6E — no passenger information showing at the boarding gate, no staff, passengers are forced to self-manage on board, and the time on board is scheduled.”
Travelers noted that the spate of cancellations had badly damaged IndiGo’s image.
IndiGo responds:
IndiGo, which operates nearly 2,200 flights a day, admitted that its operations were “significantly disrupted” and offered a “sincere apology” to passengers.
“Many unforeseen operational issues – including minor technology glitches, winter season-related flight schedule changes, adverse weather conditions, increased congestion on the flight system and the implementation of updated crew rostering rules (Flight Duty Time Limitations) – have negatively impacted our operations in ways that could not have been predicted,” the airline said in a statement on Wednesday.
