Flight cancellations due to technical issues double in May
Technical reasons emerged as a major reason to ground an aircraft. The percentage of flights cancelled due to this doubled in just one month from April to May.
Key highlights
- 52.1% of flights were cancelled in May due to technical reasons.
- Percentage of flights cancelled due to technical reasons was only 27.1% in April.
- The incumbent airlines spent nearly Rs 32.50 lakh in compensation payments to customers.
More than half the flights that were cancelled by domestic airlines in May were due to technical reasons, Directorate General of Civil Aviation report showed on Monday.
Technical reasons amounted to 52.1% of cancellation causes out of the total, in May. This percentage was 27.1% in April and 38.7% in March.
“There can be numerous reasons listed under ‘technical difficulties.’ From engine mishaps to tyre replacements, problems with lighting and even air conditioning problems, technical reasons can be very broad. These issues if overlooked can become a safety hazard,” an airline spokesperson told Zeebiz.
Also Read: Check-in errors to baggage trouble: Why most of your flights were delayed
Operational reasons ranked second under ‘reasons for cancellation’ at 8.9%; while weather, commercial and miscellaneous reasons were at 6.8%, 3.4% and 28.8% respectively.
Costlier to have empty seats on flights than to overbook and compensate
The incumbent airlines spent nearly Rs 32.50 lakh in compensation payments to customers due to flight cancellations.
The total number of passengers impacted in the month of May amounted to 19,175 as per DGCA data for which the airlines had to shell out Rs 55.11 lakh for compensation payment and facilities.
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