CIAL accuses SpiceJet of misinformation over Kochi weather advisory

Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) and SpiceJet are at odds over a passenger advisory the airline issued, which warned of possible disruption to flights in and out of Kochi due to bad weather. The airport operator has accused the airline of spreading misinformation, saying there were no adverse weather conditions at the airport.

In a statement, CIAL said it had noted ongoing operational issues affecting SpiceJet's services from Kochi, including international flights, which had caused considerable inconvenience and uncertainty for passengers. The airport operator said no other airline operating from Kochi had reported weather-related cancellations during the same period.

"Inordinate delays and even cancellations have marked SpiceJet's services from Kochi in recent days," CIAL said.

The advisory in question

The dispute centres on a social media post by SpiceJet that warned passengers about bad weather in Kochi. The post read: "Due to bad weather in Kochi, all departures/arrivals and their consequential flights might be affected. Passengers are requested to check their flight status."

CIAL said the advisory amounted to misinformation, adding that despite continuing passenger grievances, the issues had not been adequately addressed by the airline and had worsened over recent days. The airport operator said it had made every effort to assist affected passengers and advised those booked on SpiceJet flights to recheck their flight status with the airline before proceeding to the airport.

SpiceJet's response

SpiceJet said its advisory was a precautionary measure intended to help passengers plan their journeys in advance, given prevailing weather conditions. The airline said 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 expressed regret over any misunderstanding arising from the advisory and said it continued to operate its scheduled services normally.