Flight disruptions in India seem to be making headlines all too often — and this time, it's Akasa Air under fire. The budget airline came under scrutiny after abruptly cancelling 11 flights across major domestic and international routes, including Pune, Bengaluru, Cochin, Ahmedabad, and Mumbai. The last-minute cancellations left many passengers stranded or scrambling to rebook, with the airline blaming scheduling and logistical challenges for the widespread disruption.
Passengers reported little to no prior notice from Akasa Air, with many turning to social media and customer service for help. Long helpline wait times worsened the frustration, especially for international flyers. In Pune and Bengaluru, some travellers arrived at the airport only to discover last-minute cancellations.
The routes impacted included flights between Cochin and Jeddah, Bengaluru and Pune, Delhi and Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Kuwait, as well as Bengaluru and Phuket. These cancellations affected both business and leisure travelers, causing disruptions to connecting flights and return itineraries.
List of Akasa Air Flights Cancelled This Week:
AKJ546 / AKJ545: Cochin–Jeddah–Cochin
AKJ571: Mumbai–Kuwait
AKJ1437 / AKJ1318: Bengaluru–Pune–Bengaluru
AKJ623 / AKJ624: Bengaluru–Phuket–Bengaluru
AKJ1145 / AKJ1146: Delhi–Ahmedabad–Delhi
Aviation industry insiders suggested that operational challenges, a lack of crew, and logistical issues could have led to the cancellation. Akasa Air has yet to release an official statement detailing the cause. The airline is currently expanding, linking Indian metropolitan areas to Gulf locations like Jeddah and Kuwait, which might have strained its scheduling capabilities.
Akasa Air has advised passengers impacted by the situation to reach out to its customer service team for options on rebooking or refunds. Nonetheless, customer grievances suggest there are delays because of a high volume of calls. As a result, some travelers have opted to switch to other airlines to proceed with their trips.