VARANASI: The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Tuesday, October 27, listed the Varanasi to Bangkok service among Air India Express cancellations during its review of Cyclone Arnab. Its statement, issued at 23:14 IST, affects passengers planning departures from Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport at Babatpur and warns that Varanasi could also face knock-on delays.
The ministry did not give the cancelled Varanasi service's flight number, operating date or resumption time. Passengers should confirm their own booking before travelling to Babatpur. A route's inclusion in the cancellation list cannot establish the status of every subsequent departure.
What the ministry has confirmed
The official October 27 statement lists Varanasi to Bangkok within a wider set of 13 Air India Express cancellations. That total covers several routes, rather than 13 Varanasi departures. The ministry's separate warning about possible delays depends on the storm's track.
Passengers were advised to check airline flight status before leaving home and travel only after confirming their service. Airlines were told to communicate changes and follow applicable rebooking and refund norms. The ministry also sought additional assistance for older passengers, people with reduced mobility, parents with infants and those needing medical support.
Before leaving for the airport
Check the date and flight number on the booking against the airline's latest status. A confirmation for another departure on the same route does not answer whether your flight will operate. Ask the airline to clarify any change that has not been reflected in your booking.
- Confirm the individual flight before starting the journey.
- Ask the airline about rebooking or refund options if it has cancelled the service.
- Keep the booking details and the airline's response available if further assistance is needed.
AAI's Varanasi airport information page places the airport at Babatpur, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221006. It lists the terminal manager's contact as 0542-2623060 and 8887161522. Those are airport contacts; the operating airline remains the first point for resolving an individual cancellation.
Where unresolved complaints can go
The ministry's grievance information page explains that AirSewa connects passengers with aviation stakeholders and provides flight status, schedules and airport information. Its grievance system allows communication about a complaint and the response given by the organisation concerned.
Escalation is available when a passenger is dissatisfied with a nodal officer's resolution or when the configured time limit for the relevant complaint category has elapsed. A complaint can also be transferred to a different nodal authority when that entity needs to act. The cyclone statement asks passengers to approach their airline first, then use AirSewa if the issue remains unresolved.
The ministry also lists a Passenger Assistance Control Room that operates around the clock, with representatives from aviation authorities and airlines. Its published contact numbers are 011-24604283 and 011-24632987. These existing assistance arrangements provide a route for seeking help; they do not constitute confirmation that a particular departure has resumed.
Related local coverage includes the October 29 Varanasi rain warning, the earlier October 5 flight diversions and the Varanasi to Sharjah service update. These are separate developments and should be read with their original dates.
