Passengers rest on the floor of the international departure lounge at RGIA. Several flights have been grounded in response to the ongoing Iran-Israel and US conflict, leaving the terminal largely deserted. (Picture by P. Surendra)
Passengers stranded after flights get cancelled
V. Shivani Reddy I DC
Hyderabad, March 1
Several passengers, including foreigners and Indians, were stranded at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) due to flight cancellations caused by airspace closures over the West Asian region in view of ongoing US-Israel attack on Iran.
According to the RGIA, 18 flights, including 14 departures and four arrivals, were cancelled by Sunday evening. These include flights to and via Doha, Medina, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Jeddah, Kuwait. Passengers, who reached the airport on Sunday to board flights to their destinations, appeared tense and anxious as they came across their flights being cancelled.
In an advisory, the RGIA asked passengers to verify flight status directly with their respective airline prior to departure for the airport.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle at RGIA, a Romania national, Teena, who was concerned about her travel plans, complained that her flight to Dubai was cancelled and the customer service was not helpful.
“Until we find another route to go back home, there is no option left for us to leave the airport. We will wait and see how the situation pans out and what we can do,” she added.
Teena was not alone. Three other foreign passengers, who were seen sitting on the floor, were worried about travel plans and families back home. One such passenger was Ivan from Dubai. He was tense about his wife and daughter back home due to the prevailing situation. “I spoke to my family in Dubai and they are living in fear. I will travel back once the air services resume.”
Dr Salzman, an Israeli who was supposed to travel London, said he was speechless about the ongoing situation and hoped that situation quickly de-escalates.
Khadim Hussain, a Kashmiri migrant worker at Madina, was shocked to see his flight to Saudi Arabia getting cancelled. “After reaching Hyderabad, I was informed that my flight was cancelled. Now I planned to go back to Kashmir and booked a flight to Delhi,” he said.
Ajith, who was to fly to the US via Doha on Qatar Airways, said the flight was as per the schedule, when he checked it. “However, when I reached the airport, I was not allowed inside stating that the flight had been cancelled. Now, I am looking for other alternatives,” he said.
Another passenger, who requested not to be quoted, said she was informed about her flight cancellation after reaching the airport. “I have to join back to work and accordingly booked a flight to Vancouver, with a connecting flight from New Delhi. However, I am informed that the flight from New Delhi was cancelled. Now, my job is at risk due to delay in joining back work,” she added.
