Hyderabad: Over 10,800 flights were cancelled last year, disrupting the schedules of thousands of passengers, many of them heading to important meetings, writing exams or taking collecting flights.
In January last year, 17,425 passengers were affected and airlines had to shell out Rs 55.66 lakh as compensation.
On a single day in April last year, 11 flights to and from the Shamshabad were cancelled as the DGCA grounded 11 A320 neo aircraft of Indigo and three of Go Air due to issues with the engine. Both airlines were made to accommodate the passengers on alternative flights, and refund the tickets of those who did not wish to travel.
Indigo and Air India have the largest number of cancelled flights, data showed. As many as 10,836 out of 9.34 lakh scheduled flights were cancelled last year. Operational, technical and weather issues were stated to be the prime factors leading to flight cancellation.
“A majority of air travellers are caught unawares whenever there is a cancellation though the provision demands that the airline keep the passengers informed in advance. They are passengers who have to attend business meetings or important occasions,” said Ms Swathi Reddy whose flight from Goa to Hyderabad was cancelled at the last moment.
Another frequent traveller, Keerthi Vardhan Reddy, said, “Many times I received messages regarding flight cancellation only when I was already on way to the airport. The airline does not give us the exact reason for cancellation.”
The details of flight cancellation are collected through the monthly air traffic data submitted by domestic airlines to the Directorate General of Civil aviation.
