GUWAHATI: The city on Friday faced a major travel disruption after IndiGo abruptly cancelled 26 of its flights, triggering a wave of frustration among passengers and concerns over airport management. The cancellations have affected both outgoing and incoming schedules, causing delays and uncertainty for travellers.
Our correspondent reports that the cancellations were announced with minimal prior notice, catching many passengers off guard; some who had already arrived at the airport, others who were en route. “We came early morning only to find our flight cancelled without explanation,” said one stranded traveller, describing the scene as “chaos and confusion.” Many said they waited for hours, hoping for rescheduling, but were met with scant information from airline or airport staff.
The disruption is not limited to Indigo alone: observers say the sudden gap in flight operations is compounding pressure on the city’s airport infrastructure. With a high volume of passengers and limited counter support, long queues have formed at inquiry desks and baggage counters. Our correspondent adds that several travellers voiced anger at what they called “juggling and juggling of schedules” with no clarity on when flights might resume.
According to sources in the airport’s operations office, the cancellations stem from a combination of crew unavailability and aircraft scheduling issues, though no official statement has laid out a detailed chronology. An airport official said in confidence, “We are trying to manage the situation, but with staff shortages and multiple simultaneous cancellations, our systems are under strain.”
Our correspondent reports that some passengers who missed their flights attempted to book alternative services, only to find flights fully booked or fares skyrocketing, further aggravating the situation. Others, particularly those travelling for emergencies or connecting flights, expressed deep frustration at the lack of contingency planning. “I had to cancel my plans,” said a business traveller, “because no other flight was available and no assistance was given.”
The episode has sparked complaints to consumer groups and appeals for accountability. One advocate said, “Frequent and large-scale cancellations without adequate notice or support highlight deficiencies in airline planning and airport passenger service.” They argued that airlines must ensure that essential services, food, communication, alternate bookings, are available when flights are cancelled at short notice.
Our correspondent adds that local civil society groups have also demanded that the airport authority review its contingency protocols. They emphasised that, in a rapidly growing city like Guwahati where air travel demand is rising, such large-scale disruptions affect not just individual travellers but the credibility of regional air connectivity.
Adding to the pressure, some airlines operating out of the city are reportedly seeing spikes in bookings as passengers attempt to rebook, creating a scramble for limited seats. This scramble has reportedly led to increased fare rates and congestion in booking counters, further frustrating travellers.
In the wake of the cancellation crisis, some affected passengers said they may reconsider air travel options altogether. A frequent flyer from the region said, “When one cannot depend on flight schedules, the convenience disappears, it becomes a gamble whether you reach your destination on time.”
Our correspondent reports that no public apology has yet been issued by Indigo or the airport authority, though some frontline staff have offered informal refunds or vouchers to affected passengers. These, however, appear inconsistent and have not eased the widespread discontent.
Our correspondent adds that industry watchers warn this could damage the reputation of the city’s airport as a reliable hub for travel in the Northeast. Unless there is a clear overhaul in how flight disruptions are handled, including better communication with passengers and robust contingency support, frequent cancellations may erode trust in air connectivity options for the region.
As the situation unfolds, many travellers remain stranded or anxious about further disturbances. For now, the crisis throws into sharp relief the need for better coordination between airlines and airport authorities, strong support systems for affected passengers, and more transparent communication when disruptions occur.
