IndiGo flight disruption triggers hotel cancellations in Odisha; Puri tourism sector fears major dent

The ongoing IndiGo operational disruptions have begun to affect the tourism economy in Odisha, with the pilgrimage and tourism hotspot of Puri bearing the major brunt.

According to sources, hotels in the holy town have reported a steady rise in booking cancellations over the past five days. Further, hoteliers estimate that nearly 10 percent of reservations have been cancelled after travellers failed to reach the city due to suspended and delayed flights nationwide.

The looming scenario has raised serious concerns about financial losses during the active tourism season.

Puri Tourism Slowdown As Travellers Fail To Arrive

Industry representatives said that bookings that were confirmed for the first week of December are now being cancelled at short notice. Several visitors who had planned religious and leisure travel to Puri were unable to fly because of extended service interruptions.

Biraja Dhal, General Manager of Hans Coco Palm, said the impact was immediate. “Puri, Odisha, and the entire country have been affected. As hoteliers, we have been heavily impacted. We had 37 room bookings but received 8 cancellations today. This came as a sudden blow to the hotel and tourism industry as well as to those travelling in flights,” said Dhal.

Local operators said that if the situation continues, bookings during the current season could decline further, directly affecting room occupancy rates and seasonal business expectations.

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Economic Concerns For Tourism-Linked Livelihoods

Business owners cautioned that a prolonged disruption could affect a wide chain of livelihoods connected to tourism across the coastal city.

Jitendra Kumar Mohapatra, Director of Hotel Atithi Heritage, said the industry is closely interlinked with small service providers such as transport operators and local vendors.

“From small hotels to premium stays and from autorickshaw to taxi drivers, everyone’s income is tied to the other, since Puri is a tourist and pilgrimage destination. If this (IndiGo matter) is not resolved soon, then we will face heavy losses this season. The situation is the same for the entire country,” Mohapatra said.

Industry members say that December typically witnesses a steady inflow of visitors to Puri, and cancellations during this period could translate into reduced earnings for services dependent on seasonal traffic.

Passengers Face Uncertainty As DGCA Issues Notice

Across the country, passengers have reported long delays and flight cancellations for six consecutive days, prompting concerns among travellers heading to multiple destinations. According to official information contained in field reports, more than 800 flights have been cancelled during this period, leaving thousands of passengers uncertain about travel schedules.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a show-cause notice to IndiGo’s Chief Executive Officer and the airline’s Accountability Manager, seeking an explanation within 24 hours.

ALSO READ: Centre caps airfares at Rs 18k amid IndiGo crisis

The notice states that failure to prepare for the new flight duty-time regulations introduced on November 1, including planning, crew management and operational review, led to disruptions in services. DGCA has indicated that the lapses amounted to a violation of norms and stated that appropriate action could follow if no satisfactory response is submitted.

Meanwhile, IndiGo has stated that its operations are returning to normal and that approximately 95 per cent of its network has been restored.