Flights cancelled, security upped at all airports

Several Domestic airlines cancelled flights on Friday as many nervous travellers chose to stay home, reports Soubhik Mitra.

Several Domestic airlines cancelled flights on Friday as many nervous travellers chose to stay home.

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At least six arrivals and seven departures were cancelled as security forces battled terrorists at the Taj, the Oberoi and Nariman House for the second day.

“Low-cost carrier GoAir cancelled four arrivals and departures each, Kingfisher cancelled two departures and an incoming flight and Indigo cancelled a departure and arrival each,” said a spokesperson for the Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL), the consortia modernising Mumbai airport.

Last-minute cancellations shot up dramatically. A third of the domestic tickets booked by travel agency Cirrus Travels were cancelled at the eleventh hour, said Rajesh Rateria, managing director of the company.

Most airlines waived off ticket cancellations charges.

Meanwhile, security checks were intensified. “We are working on a strategy to combat fidayeen attacks,” said Sanjay Prakash, senior commandant of the Central Industrial Security Force, the agency in charge of airport security.

Jawans from the paramilitary force hovered around the airport on jeeps appealing to passengers not to encourage relatives to accompany them.