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Flight Delays and Cancellations Spark Outrage as 400+ IndiGo Passengers Stranded in Istanbul

 

Istanbul, Turkey: Over 400 passengers on IndiGo flights have been stuck at Istanbul airport for over 24 hours as the flight schedules are delayed and canceled significantly. The passengers were left frustrated without food, accommodation, or any updates from the airline. The IndiGo flights meant to take off on Wednesday night to Delhi and Mumbai are delayed into Thursday morning and beyond.

The situation has generated mass anger among travelers, as reported through social media. The IndiGo staff was not seen as responsive by passengers; most of them stated that they needed more communication to be done with them about their flight. The airline should have offered them the basic facilities, even when they had promised lounge access and compensation to the flyers.

 

Passengers Stranded with No Support from IndiGo

 

One of the passengers, Shubham Bansal, wrote on LinkedIn, "I am one of the 400 passengers stranded in Istanbul for the last 24 hours. No response or updates from IndiGo. Is this how you run the airline?" Other passengers said Anushri Bhansali's flight was delayed twice, canceled, and rescheduled for 12 hours later. Her condition notwithstanding, she wasn't offered any accommodation or meal vouchers.

The cold weather at Istanbul airport made things worse. Stranded passengers were kept in overcrowded lounges with very poor facilities. IndiGo promised compensation by giving lounge access, but the space could not accommodate the number of stranded travelers. Many had to wait for hours without support from the airline's staff.

 

IndiGo Criticized for Major Flight Delays and Service

 

Parshwa Mehta, another frustrated passenger, said, "There's no accountability, no empathy for passengers stranded overnight. We were left with no help or updates. How is this even acceptable?"

In a statement, IndiGo apologized for the inconvenience and promised help, saying, "We are aware of the delays on IndiGo flight connections to Istanbul, and our teams are available to assist customers. We prioritize customer convenience."

However, this incident comes in the wake of a recent report by AirHelp, which ranked IndiGo among the worst-performing airlines in the world by customer service in 2024. According to the report, IndiGo fell to 103rd on a list of 109 airlines worldwide by customer satisfaction and mishandling of flight disruptions.

 

IndiGo Defends Its Service 

 

IndiGo rejected the claims of the report, with the argument that it inaccurately represented the operational context of Indian airlines, particularly the number of samples taken in their survey. However, beyond the defense, the airline's performance in this incident has stirred further criticism.

Passengers now want accountability and adequate compensation for the time and the distress caused by the poor handling of the matter on the part of the airlines. The failure of these basic services during the prolonged wait has seriously called the airline's customer care standards into question.

 

IndiGo Apologises, But Passengers Want Action

 

Passengers are still stranded at the airport, seeking information and alternative arrangements. Their frustration is evident; they now demand more than just an apology.

Trends on social media continue with the hashtag #IndiGoStranded as more passengers come out to recount their frustration, demanding an explanation as well as compensation from the airline.