Tuesday, 02 January 2024 12:17 GMT

Dubai-Bound Passengers Stuck 'For Hours' At Airport Amid Air India Express Flight Delay


(MENAFN- Khaleej Times)

Passengers on a Dubai-bound Air India Express flight remained stranded for hours at Lucknow airport on Wednesday, July 9, after their flight was delayed by more than eight hours, forcing many to sit or sleep on the floor as they waited for updates.

Flight IX-193, scheduled to depart Lucknow at 8.45am IST (7.15am UAE time) finally took off at 5.11pm with an expected arrival in Dubai around 7.20pm UAE time, according to flight tracker data accessed by Khaleej Times. The long delay left passengers frustrated and exhausted, with little support or communication from the airline.

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“There is no single staff from Air India Express helping passengers,” wrote Amrit Singh, one of the travellers, in a post on X, sharing a video from the waiting area that showed people lying on the floor or sitting on luggage.

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Khaleej Times has reached out to Air India Express for a comment. A response was awaited at the time of publication.

Sources at Lucknow airport told Khaleej Times the disruption was caused by the late arrival of Flight IX-194, the inbound service from Dubai to Lucknow, which was delayed by over 16 hours. The aircraft, scheduled to leave Dubai early Wednesday morning, was reportedly held back the previous night due to a suspected technical issue that required precautionary checks. No fault was ultimately found, but the delay disrupted the airline's rotation schedule.

This is supported by a video posted by another passenger, Mohammad Azam Shaikh, who wrote on X:“Air India Express flight IX-194 from Dubai to Lucknow delayed 16 hours. Now after boarding, the pilot is announcing a technical problem. Passengers are waiting since hours on the runway.”

The airline responded to his post, apologising for the disruption and citing“operational constraints” as the reason for the delay.

This isn't the first time the airline has come under fire for its handling of the Dubai–Lucknow sector. Just last month, Khaleej Times reported that Air India Express had cancelled flights IX-193 and IX-194 for three consecutive days, leaving passengers stranded and scrambling for alternatives.

Many were offered either refunds or rebookings on later flights - options that fell short for time-sensitive travel.“What am I supposed to do with a refund when I've already paid for hotels and scheduled appointments?” an expat had told Khaleej Times.

That same week, the airline cancelled at least 13 flights across key routes including Delhi, Mumbai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah, sparking complaints of inadequate communication and support at multiple airports.

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