CIAL on Saturday said there were no adverse weather conditions in Kochi to warrant disruptions to SpiceJet services and accused the airline of spreading misinformation.
SpiceJet, in a social media post, said: “Due to bad weather in Kochi, all departures/arrivals and their consequential flights might be affected. Passengers are requested to check their flight status via https:picejet.com/#status.”
In a passenger advisory, Cochin International Airport Limited said it had noted ongoing operational issues with SpiceJet affecting its international services, including those from Kochi, causing considerable inconvenience and uncertainty for passengers.
“SpiceJet has issued a social media communication spreading misinformation by attributing the disruption to bad weather at Kochi,” CIAL said.
It said there were no adverse weather conditions in Kochi warranting the disruption cited by the airline.
“No other airline operating from Kochi has reported such disruptions on account of weather conditions during the same period,” CIAL said.
The airport operator said that despite continuing passenger grievances, the issues had not been adequately addressed by the airline and had worsened over the past few days.
CIAL said it had made every effort, as a responsible airport operator, to assist affected passengers and provide them with necessary support.
Passengers booked on SpiceJet flights were advised to recheck their flight status with the airline before proceeding to the airport.
SpiceJet clarified that its social media advisory regarding travel to and from CIAL was a precautionary measure intended to help passengers plan their journeys and make necessary arrangements in advance in view of the prevailing weather conditions.
“The advisory clearly stated that flights might be affected and was not an announcement of any cancellation or suspension of operations. There were no cancellations of SpiceJet flights from Kochi, and the airline operated both its scheduled daily departures to Fujairah and Dubai yesterday,” a SpiceJet spokesperson said.
The airline said such advisories were issued with the safety and convenience of passengers in mind, giving them adequate information and time to plan their journeys.
“We regret any misunderstanding that may have arisen from the advisory and reassure our passengers and travel partners that SpiceJet continues to operate its scheduled services normally, subject to prevailing operational conditions,” the spokesperson said.
