Air India Express Faces New Delay Chaos

Another Prolonged Delay: Air India Express Dubai Flight Issues Again

On Wednesday, July 9, Air India Express faced another severe disruption with one of its flights heading to Dubai, as flight IX-193 took off from Lucknow airport over eight hours late. Passengers were forced to sit on the ground or lay on their luggage for long hours, receiving minimal information or assistance from the airline.

Reasons for the Delay

The flight was originally scheduled to depart at 8:45 am (Indian time) but took off only at 5:11 pm, with an estimated arrival time in Dubai at 7:20 pm (UAE time). The delay was caused by the return flight IX-194’s more than 16-hour delay, which couldn't leave Dubai on time due to a technical check. Although the inspections found no faults, precautionary measures disrupted the aircraft's rotation schedule, causing a domino effect.

According to a video shared by a passenger, further uncertainty arose even after takeoff when the pilot reported another technical problem, leaving those onboard waiting on the runway.

Passengers' Reactions

Passengers were exhausted, irritated, and confused. Many complained on the X platform (formerly Twitter), one of them sharing a video of people lying on the terminal floor with the caption: “Not a single Air India Express staff member is here to assist passengers.” Many pointed out they received no water, food, or substantial information, and it was unclear when and how they could return to their normal schedule.

Recurring Problems

This incident is not unique. A month earlier, there were reports of cancellations on three consecutive days for the same Dubai-Lucknow-Dubai flight pair, which also caused huge inconvenience for passengers. Many were forced to look for another airline or cancel their plans, receiving no satisfactory solution through refunds or rebooking, especially those who had hotel bookings and time-bound plans.

The criticism was not only directed at flight cancellations and delays, but also at leaving passengers abandoned at the airport without proper customer service and communication.

Airline's Response

In response to one of the posts, the airline issued a statement citing “operational constraints” and apologized for the inconvenience. However, most passengers found this response inadequate, as similar problems had occurred frequently with the affected flights.

Summary

Air India Express has once again come into the spotlight for its deemed unreliable flights and poor crisis management. Passengers hope the airline will soon improve the quality of its services, especially for the high-traffic Dubai-bound flights. The continuous delays and cancellations not only test travelers’ patience but also severely damage the airline's reputation.

(The source of the article is Air India Express statement.)