The Hindu : New Delhi News : A harrowing experience for Ariana passengers

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 13, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

A harrowing experience for Ariana passengers

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, APRIL 12. Passengers of the Kabul-bound Ariana Afghan Airlines flight (FG 311) had a harrowing experience at Indira Gandhi International Airport here today as they were made to wait at the airport the whole day by the airline staff before it finally declared that the flight was cancelled due to a technical fault.

An angry passenger said the airline staff kept all the passengers in the dark about the status of the flight for the entire day.

"Last evening when we called to confirm the status of the flight, one person informed that it would leave on schedule at 8-50 p.m. while another said it would depart at 12 noon,'' said a passenger, who is now hoping that the flight would depart on time on Tuesday.

Stating that as per the instructions, he reached the airport before the reporting time of 6-30 a.m., the passenger said initially no one gave any indication that the flight would be late.

"Even our baggage was checked in by the airline staff and we were made to wait in the departure area. However, the passengers began getting apprehensive as they were not called for the security check,'' he said. And then information began coming in that the flight was late due to a technical snag in the Airbus 300.

Stating that as the baggage had been checked in, there was no way they could have gone anywhere, the passenger said it was only after the final announcement regarding cancellation of the flight was made around 4 p.m. that they got their baggage back.

Stating that the callous attitude of the staff made them lose a day, the business traveller said the airlines also did not take adequate care of the passengers and even the lunch served to them was "inedible''. But in the absence of any other operator and Ariana Afghan Airlines having the monopoly on the sector, the passenger said, one cannot even go for any other airlines. "Let's see if things work out fine tomorrow.''

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

New Delhi