Delhi dust storm spillover: Scores of flights delayed, some cancelled on Saturday due to heavy congestion at IGI Airport | Business News
The severe dust storm that hit Delhi and neighbouring areas had a spillover impact on flight operations at the country’s largest airport—Indira Gandhi International airport (IGIA)—on Saturday with scores of flights delayed with a few even getting cancelled due to heavy air traffic congestion. The situation led to crowded terminal buildings with a large number of irate stranded passengers. A number of passengers took to social media platforms to express their frustration, hitting out at airlines and the airport.
As per flight tracking data from Flightradar24, around 400 departing flights from Delhi on Saturday had been delayed as of 4:30 PM, while 18 stood cancelled. As for arrivals, around 220 flights were delayed, while 20 were cancelled. On Friday, over 500 departing flights were delayed and 24 cancelled, mostly due to the adverse weather event that brought the Delhi airport to a standstill in the evening. As for incoming flights on Friday, nearly 440 were delayed with a number of flights being diverted to other airports, and seven were cancelled, per flight tracking data.
As IGIA is the country’s largest airport and a major hub for India’s main airline groups, any significant disruption in flight operations usually leads to a network-wide cascading impact on flight operations. Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), the operator of IGIA, said on Saturday afternoon that while the situation at the airport was improving, some flights were still impacted due to Friday’s dust storm.
“Flight operations at Delhi Airport are improving; however, a few flights are still impacted due to last night’s weather conditions. Our on-ground teams and all stakeholders are working together to minimize any inconvenience to passengers. Please check the flight status on our website and the respective airline websites for the latest updates,” DIAL said in a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
Airlines also issued advisories to flyers, cautioning them of heavy congestion at the Delhi airport and the consequent disruption in flight operations.
“Ongoing air traffic congestion in Delhi is causing flights to be held for takeoff and landing clearance. Due to the consequential impact, a few flights across the network are impacted too. We understand that extended wait times can be bothersome, and we truly appreciate your patience. We recommend checking the flight status on our website or app for the latest information,” the country’s largest airline IndiGo said in an advisory to passengers.
Tata group airline Air India even cautioned passengers about the possibility of a dust storm on Saturday as well.
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“Air India advises passengers flying today to/from Delhi to expect potential disruptions due to heavy dusty winds forecast today between 17:30 and 21:00 hrs IST. Similar weather conditions yesterday caused flight diversions and delays, with air traffic congestion continuing to affect operations into today. As such disruptions have a cascading impact on flight schedules, we are making every effort to manage them effectively and minimise inconvenience, but some delays or changes may still occur,” Air India said in its advisory.
“Allow extra time for airport travel, as ground operations may also be impacted. We appreciate your patience and understanding as our teams work to ensure your safety under these challenging conditions,” the Tata group carrier added.
