Chaos prevailed at the Chennai airport as several passengers were stranded due to flight disruptions caused by a flash strike by the employees of state-owned air carrier 'Indian'.

At least five 'Indian' flights were cancelled as air travellers complained about lack of proper information on the flights affected due to the strike.

Cabin-crew and check-in employees joined the strike called by the ground staff of the airliner last night demanding promotional parity with their Air India counterparts after the merger.

Tempers ran high as agitated passengers gathered around 'Indian' counters in the departure lounge at the domestic terminal of the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi and argued with the airline staff demanding information about their flights.

The status board displayed "delayed" signs next to all the 'Indian' flights as many passengers said that they will "not fly by Indian again". About 200 employees of the airliner took out a procession at the airport shouting slogans against the 'Indian' management and demanding immediate grant of wage arrears and better promotional prospects.

A Delhi International Airport Limited official said five Indian flights were cancelled till 11:00 a.m. and ten others were delayed. They said the private airliners were operating their flights as per schedule.

Additional security personnel were deployed outside the airport terminal and near the office of the employees' union.