E-Paper
GoAir cancels 18 flights, passengers stranded at airports across country
GoAir has reported a series of incidents involving engine glitches, mainly in its A320 Neo planes, which has resulted in non-availability of some of such planes for operations, the source said.
Low-cost carrier GoAir on Monday cancelled 18 of its flights across the country over non-availability of aircraft and crew, sources said, affecting hundreds of passengers.
The Mumbai-based airline cancelled most of its flights from the Maharashtra capital followed by Delhi.
The cancelled flights include G8575 Mumbai Goa, G8381 Goa- Mumbai, G8 317 Mumbai Bengaluru, G8 395 Bengaluru to Mumbai, G8 113 Delhi- Bengaluru,G8 119 Bengaluru-Delhi, G8 209 Delhi to Bagdogra, G8215 Bagdogra-Delhi, G8 381 Mumbai-Chandigarh,G8 382 Chandigarh Mumbai, G8 227 Delhi-Srinagar, G8 192 Srinagar-Delhi, G8 199 Delhi-Srinagar, G8 149 Srinagar-Delhi, G8 373 Patna-Bengaluru, G8 378 from Patna to Bengaluru,G8295 Kolkata to Indore and G8 296 from Indore to Kolkata.
Sources said that the airline is facing issues with the availability of aircraft, as its Airbus A320 Neo has been facing technical glitches.
The airline also saw significant flight delays, which were attributed to late arrival of incoming aircraft that flew to different sectors earlier.
However, the airline said the cancellations came at the back of several reasons.
“A combination of factors such as inclement weather, low visibility and anti-CAA (citizenship amendment act) protests in certain parts of the country has disrupted multiple flights across GoAir’s network. This was further aggravated with flight duty time limitations (FDTL) of the crew,” a spokesperson of the airline said.
The airline said in a statement that it has initiated all possible steps to minimise inconvenience to the passengers.
“Alternate flight arrangements are being explored to minimize the impact. Free cancellation and re-booking options have been offered to all those affected,” it said in the statement.
However, several inconvenienced passengers took to Twitter to air their anguish.
Mohit Bichu, who was travelling from Mumbai to Delhi, tweeted about major delays faced by the passengers on Monday morning.
“Never travel through @goairlinesindia. I have been waiting since 6 hours and still the boarding hasn’t started. People are waiting since 12 hrs. They are clubbed in random flights. Lot of flights are cancelled. There’s chaos with the management of Go Air. Doomed airline,” Bichu posted.
“@goairlinesindia is anyone going to update us on the status of the flight G8-338 to Mumbai?? Boarding was supposed to start at 9:50 but still there is no update about any delay etc... (sic),” Priyanka Singh tweeted.
“@goairlinesindia Go air has worst airlines services I have ever seen experienced.I have booked ticket from Delhi to Goa.They have cancelled flight and intimate us 2 hours ago .they have forced us to stand at T3 terminal at freezing temperature.they have no answer (sic),” Saurav Bhagat also tweeted.
“@goairlinesindia texted me at 1.43 am for a flight at 4.55am and ‘informs’ me that my flight is cancelled.. and says they will contact me within 24 hours.. what am I to do till then?? Helpline no one answers!! #goair #flight (sic),” Krel Gonsalves said.
