AI flight cancellation irks passengers

Passengers scheduled to board flights AI 187 Amritsar-Birmingham-Toronto and AI 188 Amritsar-Delhi had to face a lot of inconvenience as both the flights were cancelled at the international airport here today.

Air India Manager Riwo Norbhu said both the planes had been grounded due to technical faults and engineers were trying to rectify it.

Agitated passengers raised slogans, in the lounge, against the management of Air India. In order to pacify the passengers, the local management announced a reimbursement of Rs 1,000. However, in the end they were paid Rs 800 for a ticket.

Gurmit Singh, who was accompanied by his wife, daughter and son, said they were informed about the cancellation just two hours before the flight for Toronto was scheduled to take-off. "Our entire schedule and assignments in Canada have been disrupted due to the cancellation," he added.

Another Toronto-bound passenger Rajan said he had earlier booked his tickets for July 29 on the same flight. However, on July 27 he was informed that the flight had been called off and the tickets were extended to July 31.

He said last month the Air India's flight from Toronto to Amritsar was also eight hours late.

A US citizen of Indian origin, Kesar Ram along with his son and daughter was supposed to board IA 188 Amritsar-Delhi at 12:55 am from where they had to board another flight to New York this morning.

The passengers had to spend the night in the lounge with no arrangement either for their stay or refreshment.

However, Norbhu said as per the requirement of passengers either taxi fare or seat in trains or buses were made available. "Accommodation in hotels was also made available for those who wanted to board the next flight," he added.