Pretty standard SOP coming down from the IC days. Usually used on the shorter haul flights.

Last winter our IXC-DEL flight was massively delayed. ANd after the second delay announcement, the station manager treated everyone to a sumptuous lunch in the airport restaurant and then bussed all 170 of us in 4 Volvo buses. Most of us were connecting onto AI's evening departure bank ex-DEL. I even got a partial refund for the IXC-DEL sector after I sent them an email with a scan of the Boarding pass!

We were among the more fortunate! Jet passengers had their flight cancelled!