Kochi-Pune Passengers of Air India Express Endure 8-Hour Delay Amid Confusion

Kochi: More than 150 passengers on an Air India Express (AIX) flight from Kochi to Pune faced a frustrating delay of over eight hours on Thursday, December 5. Scheduled to depart at 5:15 PM, the flight finally took off at 1:50 AM on Friday, leaving passengers agitated over the lack of clear communication and support.

Timeline of the Delay

• Initial Schedule: The flight (IX-9910) was set to depart from Kochi at 5:15 PM and arrive in Pune by 7:05 PM.
• First Delay: Shortly before departure, passengers were informed of a two-hour delay, with the revised time pushed to 7:15 PM.
• Further Postponements: The departure was repeatedly postponed to 9:15 PM, then to 11:55 PM, before the plane finally arrived at around 12:15 AM.
• Final Departure: The flight took off at 1:50 AM, more than eight hours behind schedule.

Passenger Frustration Over Lack of Updates

Passengers grew increasingly anxious and upset as the delay stretched on. Hari Pillai, a software engineer from Pune, described the ordeal:

“Even after 9:15 PM, the airline failed to provide meaningful updates. It was only after passengers raised an outcry that meals were served, and we were informed the flight might arrive by 11:55 PM. However, it showed up later, at 12:15 AM.”

Pillai, who works remotely, said he had an important meeting scheduled for Friday morning, which he could no longer attend due to the delay.

Root Cause of the Disruption

Passengers suspected the delay stemmed from disruptions on other Air India Express routes. Pillai mentioned seeing complaints about a canceled Ayodhya-Bengaluru flight, which disrupted the Bengaluru-Kochi service and likely impacted the Kochi-Pune flight.

When reached for comment, an Air India Express spokesperson stated they were awaiting information from higher authorities regarding the exact cause of the delay but attributed it to “operational reasons.”

Airline Response

On social media, the airline responded to Pillai’s grievances:

“Please accept our sincere apologies for the disruption to your flight. The updated ETD is 22:50 hours. Our airport staff has been notified to assist all affected guests. Thank you for your patience and understanding.”

Stranded Passengers Demand Better Communication

The delay left over 150 passengers, including senior citizens, stranded at Kochi Airport for hours. Heated arguments broke out between passengers and ground staff, who reportedly struggled to provide timely updates.

“We were waiting near the boarding gate, completely in the dark. The lack of information was unacceptable,” said one passenger.

Conclusion

The ordeal faced by Kochi-Pune passengers of Air India Express highlights the need for better contingency planning and real-time communication during flight disruptions. Passengers called for improved management to prevent such incidents in the future.

While delays are sometimes unavoidable, clear communication and timely support can make a significant difference in minimizing passenger distress.