Diwali travellers stranded as SpiceJet cancels multiple flights

Passengers travelling for the Diwali vacation faced severe hardships on Saturday, November 7, due to the cancellation and significant delays of several SpiceJet flights at Ahmedabad airport. According to a report by DeshGujarat, passengers heading to Kerala, Patna, and Bagdogra remained stranded at the airport for hours. Passengers alleged that the airline provided no timely information regarding flight changes, leaving families without clarity on alternative flights or refunds.

Several passengers, including Dr. Kaival Shah, stated that their bookings appeared confirmed earlier, but they were informed of cancellations or delays only after arriving at the airport. As it was the peak festive season, passengers faced immense difficulty in finding other options. Videos emerging from the airport showed passengers arguing with SpiceJet staff. They expressed dissatisfaction over the absence of senior officials and the lack of communication.

During a conversation, an employee named Ajay assured passengers that the Bagdogra flight would not be cancelled and was arriving from Delhi, stating that the delay was due to operational reasons. However, passengers questioned why they were not notified in advance and asked for the new departure time. They alleged that instead of providing a concrete solution, the staff was redirecting them from one employee to another and refused to call a senior manager.

Passengers demanded the presence of a responsible nodal officer who could arrange alternative flights and resolve these issues. Some passengers also claimed that frequent delays and cancellations have been observed in this airline over the past week. Additionally, due to the long wait, passengers complained about the lack of basic amenities such as seating and refreshments. They demanded immediate assistance, citing the DGCA's passenger facilitation norms.

Due to the festive rush, tickets for other airlines had become very expensive. One passenger mentioned that replacement tickets were available for approximately ₹28,000. Other passengers stated that booking with another airline could cost them three to four times more than the original ticket. The situation worsened due to uncertainty regarding refunds and a lack of clear communication from SpiceJet, spoiling the limited vacation time for many families.

During the heated arguments, some passengers discussed delays in salary payments to SpiceJet employees and questioned whether financial and operational difficulties were the cause of these problems. However, these claims have not been independently verified. Passengers further stated that flights to other locations, including Dubai, had also been cancelled previously. This entire incident has raised questions about the airline's reliability and service standards. Official reasons for the cancellations and a response from SpiceJet are yet to be received.