CHENNAI- Due to heavy rain caused by Cyclone Michaung, the city airport in Chennai (MAA) had to be closed, leading to the cancellation of over a thousand flights connecting the region since yesterday.
IndiGo (6E) had to cancel 550 flights nationwide following the closure of the airport, while Vistara (UK) suspended 10 flights from Chennai.
IndiGo Cancelled 550 Chennai Flights
With the rain having ceased, Chennai is now grappling with the challenge of draining floodwaters and evaluating the damages incurred during the intense rainfall.
Yesterday, Chennai airport closed its runway and grounded all planes due to flooding. Operations resumed this morning. Meanwhile, Visakhapatnam airport is currently shut as the cyclone has shifted towards Andhra Pradesh.
IndiGo recommenced its Chennai flights around noon but confirmed the cancellation of 60 flights today. Vistara has also resumed operations to and from Chennai.
Affected passengers will receive a waiver for flight cancellation and rescheduling, as announced by IndiGo, which achieved the milestone of operating over 2,000 daily scheduled flights
The airline currently has 15 planes stationed in Chennai, which were grounded after the airport closure yesterday. Vistara stated that it has contacted affected passengers and provided alternative options.
Other Carriers Update
A spokesperson from Vistara mentioned that the team exerted all efforts to minimize inconvenience to customers.
This included proactive cancellations of select flights, and the team has remained in constant communication with affected customers, providing regular updates and presenting various alternatives, such as rescheduling or refunds, as applicable.
Air India (AI), having cancelled 33 return flights across the country during the Chennai airport closure, has waived rescheduling charges for both yesterday’s and today’s flights. Additionally, 20 return flights were cancelled by Air India today.
Cyclone Michaung brought heavy torrential rain to Chennai since Sunday night, resulting in widespread flooding. Apart from flight disruptions, numerous train services were also cancelled, with passengers assured of a full refund.
The cyclone has initiated the landfall process near Bapatla on the Andhra Pradesh coast.
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