IndiGo Airlines has announced the suspension of its flights from Kanpur to Bengaluru for a duration of three months starting from January 1, 2024. This decision has raised concerns, particularly among the residents of Kanpur, with the business community expressing unease, a TOI report stated.
The Merchant Chamber of Commerce's vice president, Mayank Khanna, has reached out to IndiGo's headquarters for clarification.
According to information received from the headquarters, the suspension is attributed to technical issues with the engines of IndiGo's aircraft fleet. Approximately 30 planes are already grounded due to engine-related problems, and an additional 30-40 aircraft are slated to be grounded based on directives from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) during the period from January to March 2024. Despite the airline enjoying substantial demand from Kanpur, the unavoidable grounding of planes has led to the suspension of flights.
This scenario extends beyond Kanpur, affecting more than 30 flights nationwide.
IndiGo is actively addressing the situation by exploring options to augment its fleet. The airline remains hopeful that, subject to approvals from the DGCA, all the flights that have been canceled or postponed will be smoothly reinstated from April onward. IndiGo is actively engaged in securing additional aircraft through leasing arrangements while also anticipating the delivery of its own new aircraft.
Meanwhile, IndiGo also revealed plans to launch direct flights connecting Mumbai and Ayodhya, commencing from January 15, 2024.