‘Husband in ICU, wife stuck in airport’ as flights cancelled without prior notice

KANNUR: Passengers protest after Air India cancels flight without any prior notice. Flights to Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Muscat were cancelled at the last minute. Hundreds of passengers have been stranded in airports including Kannur.

Reports said among the passengers there are people who would lose their jobs and some others whose visas will be cancelled if they don’t leave today. Some had cancelled their Air India tickets and booked tickets on Indigo by spending around Rs 40,000.

The officials informed that the flight has been cancelled when the passengers reached the gate after security check at the Thiruvananthapuram airport. Passengers had to wait for hours. The passengers responded to the media that they were not given even a drop of water to drink and gave only bread.

'My dear sir, we want to go to Dubai. We have been waiting here from 4 in the morning. Asked to arrange a room for us as money is an issue to go and come again. We had to pay Rs 2500 for the taxi and has to return in the same way. Have to come to the airport tomorrow also. All they have to do is book a taxi for me to go home. If not, I'll sit here and I have no other option,’ said a passenger.

'They informed us about the cancellation of the flight when we reached here this morning. They have not said to compensate us for the loss incurred. The official said the flight can be rescheduled. However, he said that he is not sure whether can go in tomorrow’s flight. What will people who have to go urgently will do, asked the passenger. Among those stranded is a woman who wants to visit her husband who is in the ICU abroad after a heart attack.

Flights from Thiruvananthapuram to Muscat, Dubai and Abu Dhabi have been cancelled. Flights to Ras Al Khaimah, Dubai, Jeddah, Doha, Bahrain and Kuwait were cancelled from 8 am in Karipur. Four flights from Nedumbassery to places including Bengaluru have been cancelled. All three services were cancelled in Kannur.

Air India employees are on nationwide strike highlighting their demands including allowance and this affected the services. Air India's response is that the journey may be rescheduled. The civil aviation authority has intervened in the matter.