SpiceJet flights cancelled in Kolkata; Ruckus at airport

Kolkata, Dec 16: SpiceJet has cancelled flights from Kolkata without prior intimation. Passengers are stranded at the airport and waiting for refund.

With the SpiceJet flights getting cancelled at last moment, passengers are extremely angry and there is a huge commotion at the Kolkata airport.

Anshuman Modak, one of the SpiceJet passengers, said, "Flights have been cancelled without prior intimation. Even the luggage that has been checked in, is returning. People are really upset."

SpiceJet staff, upon anonymity, said, "We were told yesterday that we will not have to cancel operations and that something will work out by today. but that failed to happen and hence we have been ordered to cancel all flights (operating from Kolkata) for now."

Some passengers were heading for treatment in Chennai, while some others were heading to give exams in other cities. The cancellations have made these people helpless and many were seen sobbing at the airport.

The airline has been asking for more time from oil companies and airport operators to clear their dues. The development comes amidst reports that the state-run Airports Authority of India (AAI) and OMCs have placed the airline on a cash-and-carry mode.

Even the shares of the said airline have dropped by as much as 17 percent on Tuesday.

SpiceJet executives were set to meet government officials for another round of talks after a deadline set by regulators for the budget carrier to set out a plan for paying its dues to airline authorities and fuel suppliers expired on Sunday.

Suffering a total liability of about Rs 2,000 crore, beleaguered no-frill carrier SpiceJet, on Monday, approached the government and sought urgent financial help to run its daily operations.

Even though there are repeated assurances by the carrier authorities that the flights will be rescheduled, people have lost trust in the airline already.

For now, angry passengers are seen in a long queue, waiting to get their refunds for the airline.

OneIndia News