Air of uncertainty

Kozhikode: The other day, the recent in a long series, passengers to Jeddah and Sharjah were those 'chosen few' who got to know first-hand the 'unique' Air India experience at Karipur airport.
Jeddah-bound travellers, scheduled for departure at 9.20 p.m. on Friday, were held up in the airport up to 11 p.m. and shifted to a hotel thereafter. They were brought to airport the next morning only to be informed about further indefinite delay citing adverse weather conditions.
Naturally, passengers lost their cool, pounded the chairs at the customs hall, took out a protest rally at the airport and laid siege to the terminal entrance.
The ensuing verbal duel with officials reached a flashpoint. Air India didn't care to provide even food to them, it is alleged. It was 6.30 p.m. on Saturday, when they were sent off to Jeddah!
For passengers to Sharjah, slated for departure at 6.55 p.m. on Friday aboard Indian, too, it was a day-long wait.
Also, Air India's Abudhabi Express, scheduled to arrive on Friday night, didn't make it even on Saturday morning, which provoked those waiting to receive the passengers to barge into the airport manager's cabin.
The plane arrived on Saturday evening. Eleven incoming flights, including an international one, were delayed inordinately.
While airport sources blamed bad weather for the services being thrown out of gear, absence of answerable and accountable officials in check-in counters and airlines' offices was condemnable.
Even after Indian Airlines and Sri Lankan Airlines started operations, Air India shyed away. Except the Abudhabi Express, none of its other services operated till Saturday night.
22/10/07 Newindpress

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline

Categories: Air India - International Oct 2007, Air india Budget Oct 2007, Airports Oct 2007, NACL Oct 2007