In the wake of Cyclone Michaung’s wrath, over a thousand flights connecting Chennai were abruptly cancelled as heavy rains inundated the city, forcing the closure of the airport. The relentless downpour led to the suspension of operations at Chennai Airport, leaving travellers stranded and airlines grappling with logistical challenges.
IndiGo, one of India’s major carriers, bore the brunt of the disruptions, cancelling a staggering 550 flights nationwide. The closure of Chennai airport prompted IndiGo to ground 15 planes in the city, affecting its daily scheduled flight milestone of 2,000. Vistara, another airline operating in the region, suspended 10 flights from Chennai.
The inundation of Chennai airport’s runway compelled authorities to ground all planes, exacerbating the chaos. Although operations have since resumed, the city now faces the arduous task of draining floodwaters and assessing the damages incurred during the deluge.
As the rain subsides, Chennai attempts to regain normalcy, with IndiGo and Vistara resuming limited operations. However, both airlines continue to experience disruptions, with IndiGo cancelling 60 flights on the day of the resumption.
Affected flyers have been assured of a waiver on cancellation and rescheduling fees. IndiGo, in its commitment to customer satisfaction, had announced the provision of alternatives to mitigate the inconvenience caused by the cancellations.
Vistara echoed similar sentiments, stating, “The team made all efforts to minimize inconvenience to customers, including proactively cancelling select flights, and has been in constant touch with the impacted customers to offer regular updates and various alternatives, such as rescheduling or refunds, as applicable.”
Air India, another key player in the aviation sector, joined the fray by waiving rescheduling charges for flights affected during the Chennai airport closure. The airline, which cancelled 33 return flights across the country during the crisis, continues to grapple with disruptions, cancelling an additional 20 return flights today.
Meanwhile, the cyclone, having made landfall near Bapatla on the Andhra Pradesh coast, has prompted the closure of Visakhapatnam airport. With the storm’s movement towards Andhra Pradesh, the region braces for its impact, while authorities work tirelessly to assess and address the aftermath of Michaung’s onslaught in Chennai.
As the city counts its losses and endeavors to restore normalcy, the resilience of Chennai’s residents and the coordinated efforts of airlines remain crucial in navigating through the challenges posed by Cyclone Michaung.
Also read: https://newstym.com/discover-the-top-5-most-expensive-cities-in-the-world/
