Chaos at IGI Airport: Poor Planning Disrupts 68% of Flights
New Delhi: Operations at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport descended into disarray over the weekend, with 68% of flights delayed or canceled due to inadequate planning. The disruptions, which began Friday evening, were triggered by a combination of a severe dust storm and the ongoing closure of one of the airport’s main runways for upgrades.
On Friday, a powerful dust storm with winds reaching 74 kmph swept through Delhi, forcing air traffic control to suspend operations for nearly 45 minutes. Over 40 incoming flights were diverted to other cities, and more than 50 domestic flights were delayed, with seven canceled outright. The storm’s impact was compounded by the closure of Runway 28, one of IGI’s four runways, which has been non-operational since Tuesday for an Instrument Landing System (ILS) upgrade.
The ripple effects continued into Saturday, with over 350 departures affected between midnight and 2 p.m., stranding thousands of passengers. The average delay was 40 minutes, and several airlines, including IndiGo and Air India, were forced to cancel flights due to the scale of the disruptions. Social media platforms, particularly X, were flooded with passenger complaints about overcrowded terminals and poor communication from airlines. A video posted by Dr. Shalabh Kumar on X showed a packed boarding gate at Terminal 3, with passengers describing the situation as “utter chaos.”
Airlines attributed the disruptions to factors beyond their control, with IndiGo stating on X that ongoing air traffic congestion in Delhi caused delays in takeoff and landing clearances. Air India noted that the cascading impact of the disruptions led to unavoidable schedule changes, expressing regret for the inconvenience. Both airlines urged passengers to check flight statuses online.
The closure of Terminal 2, set to begin April 15 for extensive upgrades, further complicates the situation. Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) has shifted operations to Terminal 1, but the lack of an air train for seamless transfers between terminals remains a significant challenge, especially for connecting passengers. The absence of robust contingency plans exacerbated the weekend’s chaos, drawing criticism from passengers and observers.
As IGI Airport, one of India’s busiest aviation hubs, grapples with these challenges, the disruptions underscore the need for improved planning and communication to mitigate the impact of weather events and infrastructure upgrades. Airport authorities and airlines have yet to announce specific measures to address the ongoing issues, leaving travelers to navigate an uncertain recovery period.