VANCOUVER- Passengers aboard Air India (AI) flight AI186 from Vancouver (YVR) to Delhi (DEL) were left dismayed when their flight was abruptly canceled after they had already boarded and remained seated on the plane for over five hours.
The flight, which had been subject to delays since March 24, was ultimately canceled on Monday (March 25).
Air India Cancels Vancouver to Delhi Flight
The flight in discussion is one of the longest flights by distance and time from India. According to FlightRadar24, the flight was scheduled to operate by Air India’s Boeing 777-300ER registered as VT-ALS. The aircraft is around 14 years old and named as Mizoram.
Passengers reported that Air India did not adhere to the prescribed waiting time regulations and failed to offer suitable accommodation, impacting approximately 300 passengers.
Passengers voiced their discontent with the handling of the situation, criticizing Air India for the lack of communication and assistance during their ordeal.
Many travelers eagerly awaited their return to Delhi, and the sudden cancellation of the flight further inconvenienced those connecting domestic flights to various parts of India.
My Take: Indian aviation regulators should make strict rules regarding compensating passengers appropriately when an airline delays or cancels a flight due to technical problems, except for the weather.
Passenger and Executive Remarks
Kedar Sharma, a passenger on the flight, expressed frustration, stating, “This is extremely irritating and disappointing. I will never book an Air India flight again. Flight AI186 from Vancouver (Canada) to Delhi was canceled after we spent five hours on the plane.” Another passenger remarked, “No refreshments were provided to us during the five-hour in-flight delay. It was very frustrating. I missed my connecting flight from Delhi to Mumbai because of this delay.”
An Air India representative explained, “The flight was delayed due to technical issues. Refunds have been initiated for those opting for cancellation. However, passengers who chose a rescheduled flight were left stranded as the flight was scheduled to depart from Canada at 1 pm on March 26. Hotel accommodations were provided to such passengers.”
Not the First Time
In Jan 2024, Air India Flight AI185, scheduled to depart from Delhi to Vancouver (YVR), could not take off as planned due to unsuitable weather conditions at the Delhi airport.
After eight hours of waiting, the flight, which was prepared for takeoff at 5:15 in the morning with all passengers on board, had to be grounded due to low visibility.
Numerous passengers expressed concerns about being unable to disembark and wait inside the terminal.
The airline later clarified, stating, “The decision was based on the time-consuming process of rechecking and security clearance post-de-boarding, leading them to choose passengers waiting inside the plane.”
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