6 AI Express flights cancelled

Disruption of Air India Express service from here to Gulf destinations over the last few days has resulted in cancellation of at least six flights on Friday.

Disruption of Air India Express service from here to Gulf destinations over the last few days has resulted in cancellation of at least six flights on Friday.

HT Image

Utter confusion prevailed at Karipur international airport here with the Air India Express cancelling flights to Manama, Abu Dhabi, two services each to Sharjah and Muscat while services to other Gulf destinations including Kuwait, Sharjah and Dubai were delayed indefinitely, airport sources said.

The AI Express, which operates several flights to the Gulf region, had recently withdrawn ground handling personnel of a firm after its contract expired without making alternate arrangements resulting in complete disruption of flight schedule over the last few days and cancellation of as many as six flights today to the Gulf sector, the sources said.

Besides, two senior airlines officials also reportedly went on leave, compounding the problem for Gulf-bound passengers.

A passenger at the airport said there was no responsible person at the Airline counters to brief the passengers about the flight schedule for the day.

Airport sources said as many as 25 flight schedules could have been affected either due to cancellation or indefinite delay during the day.