Air India Express schedules Sunday Bengaluru-Kathmandu recovery flight after passengers protest multiple disruptions

Air India Express on Saturday said it has scheduled an additional Bengaluru–Kathmandu recovery flight for Sunday to fly stranded passengers to the Nepalese capital, after angry passengers staged protests at Kempegowda International Airport over repeated disruptions.

In a statement, an airline spokesperson said flights operating on Thursday and Friday could not land in the Nepali capital due to unfavourable weather and had to be diverted.

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“Due to adverse weather in Kathmandu, our Bengaluru–Kathmandu flights on 26 and 27 February were diverted. An additional flight operated today to recover guests from yesterday’s disrupted service was also diverted for the same reason... An additional recovery flight is planned tomorrow to accommodate these guests,” the spokesperson said.

Protests erupt after two days of disruption

The clarification follows scenes of unrest at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, where passengers protested what they described as confusion and inadequate communication after their journey was disrupted for two consecutive days.

Travellers said Thursday’s flight returned to Bengaluru without landing in Kathmandu, and a renewed attempt on Friday was diverted before eventually bringing passengers back.

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Several flyers alleged they were left waiting onboard for hours with limited updates, prompting an onboard protest and later a sit-in near the immigration area.

"We were kept inside the plane for hours without proper information. No one clearly explained what was happening," a passenger said during their protest on Friday.

Security personnel from the Central Industrial Security Force stepped in to defuse tensions as passengers demanded answers and compensation for disrupted travel plans.

(With PTI inputs)