At Delhi’s IGI Airport, hundreds protest as Lufthansa flights are cancelled

Students’ Strike at IGI Airport Delhi, as Lufthansa cancels two flights to Germany and they ain’t finding a solution, Students are in panic as most are colleges are starting from 6th and they ain’t rebooking before 10th sept. @PMOIndia@JM_Scindia @lufthansa #shameonlufthansa pic.twitter.com/dkAW8LwAPL

— Kuntal parmar (@Kunnntal) September 1, 2022

After reaching, the officials came to know that around 10.15 pm on Thursday, 300 passengers of Frankfurt bound Lufthansa flight, which was scheduled for departure at 2.50 am, and 400 passengers of Munich bound Lufthansa flight, which was scheduled for departure at 1.10 am came along with their relatives, and got to know about the flight cancellation. Both the flights were cancelled by the Lufthansa headquarters due to a one-day worldwide strike of all the pilots of Lufthansa airlines for salary appraisals.

Protest on Delhi Airport. Road blocked, passengers not allowed to enter airport, cars and cabs stuck.@AamAadmiParty#DelhiAirport @AAI_Official @MoCA_GoI pic.twitter.com/QBHadfekRx

— Himanshu Razz (@talk2Razz) September 1, 2022

“They started raising slogans and alleged that Lufthansa airlines neither provided full refund nor provided alternate flight and hotel accommodation due to which passengers, those who entered into terminal as well as those present at departure alighting area along with their relatives, staged a protest,” an official said.

Police said they received information at 12.15 am in which it was conveyed that crowd has gathered on the main road in front of departure Gate No. 1, T-3 and after reaching, police found that the traffic moment had slowed down due to their protest. “The crowd was demanding refund of money or alternate arrangement to be made for their relatives, who were present inside the terminal building. The gathering was dispersed shortly. Efforts are being done to make alternate arrangements for the passengers by the airlines company,” the officer said.

In the midst of the protest, passengers of the scene posted videos of the event. In one of the tweets, a passenger said that roads were blocked, with passengers’ cars and cabs being stuck. A video appeared to show passengers sitting and waiting on the asphalt, while others crowded about. Slogans of “band karo, band karo” were also audible from protestors.

Another tweet showed passengers stranded at Delhi airport on account of the strike, with a video appearing to show passengers stuck inside the airport, along with piles of luggage. Calls of “we want justice” and “zindabad” could also be heard.

Another passenger had tweeted a complaint to Lufthansa, and claimed they were only willing to compensate them Rs 6,000 for accommodation when they were stuck from 8 pm to 4 am, despite being accompanied by senior citizens.