Over 1,000 passengers stranded at Leh airport due to bad weather

A large number of passengers, over 1,000 of them, were stranded due to cancellation of flights owing to bad weather, on Thursday protested at the Leh airport.

Flights of three major airlines -- one flight of Jet Airways, three of Go Air and two of Air India were cancelled on Wednesday, while one was cancelled on Thursday.

The stranded passengers also shouted slogans against the flight companies. The passengers were rescheduled for Thursday. There was a heavy rush at the airport, as all the three carriers announced additional flights for Thursday after the cancellations.

About 800 passengers of Go Air are understood to be among the stranded passengers. The Mumbai-based low-cost carrier has operated two additional flights and will operate more to clear the backlog, sources said.

Air India has put four flights and cleared all its stranded passengers while Jet Airways has operated three flights and cleared its backlog.

A GoAir spokesperson said its flights between Delhi and Leh were cancelled due to inclement weather on Wednesday, though it operated two of the three daily flights on Thursday.

“On July 2 and 3, GoAir has attempted to operate flights, but had to return after hovering above Leh airport due inclement weather,” she said, adding that the airline would operate five flights, including two additional ones, on Friday to help clear the surplus passengers in both directions depending on the weather.

“While we sincerely apologise to all our customers who have had to endure the inconvenience, GoAir wishes to clarify that some flights could not be operated on July 2 and 3 only on account of the prevailing weather at the time of landing,” the spokesperson said. 

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