Madurai: About 30 children from Chennai, most of them from orphanages and poor families who were taken on a special trip on flight to pay tribute to former president APJ Abdul Kalam, were stranded at Madurai Airport for about hours on Wednesday, after Air Pegasus cancelled the Madurai-Chennai flight.
This came amid reports that the nascent small airline operator is facing turbulent times that has apparently forced it to cancel several flights.
Around 45 passengers, including 30 children between 10 and 18 years, were taken to Rameswaram by an organisation, Raindropss, to pay tribute to former president on his first death anniversary. They had booked tickets on Air Pegasus flight from Chennai to Madurai, each paying `4,300 for a return ticket.
After visiting Kalam’s memorial at Peikarumbu, the children came to Madurai airport around 3.30 pm to take the 6 pm flight. They came to know that the flight was cancelled, apparently due to technical glitches.
The coordinators from the NGO demanded that the airline arrange alternative flight or accommodation for the children, but the airline staff turned it down. The children and others waited at airport till 10.30 pm, after the NGO arranged a private bus to return to Chennai.
The plan for such a trip to motivate children to study well was made a year ago, soon after Kalam died. “We had chosen the 30 children from various homes who consistently scored good marks in their school. They have studied hard to win the competitions to get the opportunity,” said Vivek Nair, trustee of Raindropss.
Even though tickets were available in next flight for the same price, the airline employees refused to make any arrangements, alleged Vivek, adding that the children were not even provided food.
28/07/16 B Anbuselvan/New Indian Express
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This came amid reports that the nascent small airline operator is facing turbulent times that has apparently forced it to cancel several flights.
Around 45 passengers, including 30 children between 10 and 18 years, were taken to Rameswaram by an organisation, Raindropss, to pay tribute to former president on his first death anniversary. They had booked tickets on Air Pegasus flight from Chennai to Madurai, each paying `4,300 for a return ticket.
After visiting Kalam’s memorial at Peikarumbu, the children came to Madurai airport around 3.30 pm to take the 6 pm flight. They came to know that the flight was cancelled, apparently due to technical glitches.
The coordinators from the NGO demanded that the airline arrange alternative flight or accommodation for the children, but the airline staff turned it down. The children and others waited at airport till 10.30 pm, after the NGO arranged a private bus to return to Chennai.
The plan for such a trip to motivate children to study well was made a year ago, soon after Kalam died. “We had chosen the 30 children from various homes who consistently scored good marks in their school. They have studied hard to win the competitions to get the opportunity,” said Vivek Nair, trustee of Raindropss.
Even though tickets were available in next flight for the same price, the airline employees refused to make any arrangements, alleged Vivek, adding that the children were not even provided food.
28/07/16 B Anbuselvan/New Indian Express
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