Have Flight Operations at Delhi Airport Returned to Normal?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Flight operations at Delhi airport have resumed after a major disruption.
- The malfunction affected over 800 flights on Friday.
- Passengers should remain in contact with their airlines for updates.
- Authorities are working to minimize inconvenience.
- IndiGo Airlines has confirmed operations are gradually being restored.
New Delhi, Nov 8 (NationPress) The operator for Delhi airport, DIAL, announced on Saturday that flight operations at the nation’s most bustling airport have returned to normal since the afternoon. This follows a significant malfunction of the air traffic control system on Friday, which resulted in delays for over 800 flights and stranded numerous passengers.
"All flight operations are back to normal at Delhi airport," DIAL stated in a passenger advisory posted on X.
Nonetheless, DIAL advised travelers to remain in contact with their airlines for the most recent flight information.
Earlier that morning, DIAL reported that the technical problem impacting the AMSS was showing signs of improvement. "Airline operations at Delhi Airport are gradually stabilizing, with all relevant authorities working diligently to reduce any inconvenience caused," it mentioned on X.
Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in Delhi, which features four runways, manages over 1,500 flight movements each day.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) confirmed that it has resolved the "technical problem in the AMSS, which disrupted the processing of flight plan messages."
"The OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) was engaged, and additional personnel were assigned to manually process Flight Plans for the Air Traffic Control system, ensuring safe and uninterrupted air traffic operations immediately.
According to flight tracking platform Flightradar 24, 129 flights (comprising 53 arrivals and 76 departures) faced delays on Saturday morning, a significant decrease from the nearly 800 delays recorded on Friday.
In a statement this morning, the Delhi airport noted, "The technical issue with the Automatic Message Switching System (AMSS), which supports the air traffic control flight planning process, is progressively improving. Airline operations at Delhi Airport are returning to normal, and all relevant authorities are diligently working to minimize any inconvenience. Passengers are advised to stay connected with their airlines for the latest flight updates."
IndiGo Airlines, one of the major airlines affected by the disruption, also issued a notice stating that flight operations are being restored "progressively" at Delhi Airport.
"We are delighted to inform you that the temporary outage of the AMSS impacting Air Traffic Control has been resolved, and normal operations are being gradually reinstated at Delhi Airport and other affected airports in the northern region. We appreciate the efforts of the airport and ATC authorities in rectifying the issue and restoring systems. As flight operations normalize, delays and terminal congestion may persist for some time, and we thank you for your patience during this transition to normalcy," the airline’s statement included.
In a previous announcement, the airline added, "Airport operator and ATC teams are prioritizing the complete restoration of systems and the stabilization of operations. The situation is expected to normalize within the next few hours. During this time, some departure and arrival schedules may continue to be adjusted."