Pune Airport: SpiceJet Flight Cancellations Disrupt Travel Plans of Over 100 Passengers

Viman Nagar, 19th February 2025: More than 100 air travelers faced disruptions at Pune Airport after two SpiceJet flights were canceled on Monday night and Tuesday morning. The affected flights included a Pune-Ahmedabad service on Monday and a Pune-Bhavnagar flight on Tuesday, leaving passengers stranded and frustrated.

Passengers Left Stranded Without Prior Notice
Divesh Vora, a resident of Vimannagar, was among those impacted by the Ahmedabad-bound flight. He had planned to attend his cousin’s wedding in Mount Abu and had booked a connecting train from Ahmedabad. “My flight, scheduled to depart at 7:35 PM, was supposed to land in Ahmedabad by 8:55 PM, giving me enough time to catch my train at 10 PM. I arrived at the airport by 5 PM, checked in, and waited near the boarding gate with 50-60 other passengers. However, there were no airline representatives present,” Vora recalled.

According to him, just 15 minutes before the scheduled departure, passengers were informed that the flight would now take off at 11:15 PM. “We were told there was a technical issue, but no alternative solutions were provided. I had made all my bookings in advance, and everything fell apart. Last-minute tickets were too expensive, and I ended up missing my cousin’s wedding,” he added.

On Tuesday morning, nearly 70 passengers scheduled to fly to Bhavnagar faced a similar situation. Mustafa Sadikot, one of the affected travelers, said that he only learned about the cancellation after reaching the airport.

“My flight was supposed to leave at 7:55 AM, and I reached the airport around 5 AM. That’s when I found out through other passengers that the flight had been canceled. One family, in desperate need of alternative travel, decided to take a road trip to Mumbai to board a train,” Sadikot said.

He further alleged that no SpiceJet staff were available at the airport, and a third-party agency was handling the situation. “The representatives present were unhelpful and did not provide clear answers. Since I had to travel urgently, I had to book another flight to Ahmedabad and then make my way to Bhavnagar,” he added.

Airline Responds to Passenger Complaints
SpiceJet acknowledged the cancellations but maintained that affected passengers were informed in advance and given alternative travel options. “Flight SG-2962 from Pune to Ahmedabad was initially delayed and later canceled due to operational reasons. Passengers were offered hotel accommodations and rebooked on an additional commercial flight on February 18, 2025. Refreshments were also provided at the airport,” an airline spokesperson stated.

Regarding the Pune-Bhavnagar flight cancellation, SpiceJet claimed that passengers were notified well in advance. “Flight SG-1079, scheduled to depart on Tuesday morning, was canceled due to operational reasons. Passengers were informed over 10 hours in advance and were given the choice of taking the next available flight or receiving a full refund,” the spokesperson added.

Despite the airline’s assurances, many passengers remained dissatisfied, citing poor communication and lack of immediate support at the airport.