Imphal, July 24: A conflicting report regarding Air Deccan's Imphal-Silchar flight within the private carrier has reportedly left passengers fuming and feeling cheated.

While Imphal staff of the Nation's largest private airliner said the Imphal-Silchar flight scheduled for take-off at 10.55 am today had been cancelled resulting in the passengers heading back to their respective homes, the same firm's headoffice located in Bangalore insisted that there was no cancellation of the said flight.

Ajmir Khan (48) one of the passengers told reporters this evening that he reached Tulihal Airport in time to board the Silchar flight and completing the pre-flight procedures was waiting for the same only to be approached by some Air deccan personnel who inquired for passengers who had obtained the boarding pass.

Three passengers, including Ajmir called on the staff after which the latter conveyed to them that the Imphal-Silchar flight has been cancelled.

Subsequently the airline staff reclaimed the trio's boarding passes and issued alternative tickets to them.

A hapless Ajmir then approached the Air Deccan counter at the airport to rearrange his journey tomorrow only to be told to meet the concerned ticket sale agent.

When the ticketing agent was consulted by Ajmir, the agent quoting report of the Bangalore office was informed that there is no cancellation of flight in addition to informing him (Ajmir) that the flight had taken off from Tulihal Airport as was scheduled.

When the head office gave such reply then Ajmir's chances for either reallotment of a ticket for a new flight or reimbursement of the ticket cost is remote, insisted the agent who was also present during at the hurriedly convened media briefing.

The interesting part of entire episode pertains to non use of public address system in announcing the Imphal-Silchar flight cancellation at the airport.

The ticket agent was of the view that communication gap between the Imphal staff of Air Deccan and the Bangalore headoffice may have caused inconveniences to passengers.

Comment