New Delhi – Thousands of travellers at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport are experiencing major disruptions, including significant flight delays and longer wait times, after a technical snag hit the Air Traffic Control (ATC) system on Tuesday morning. The glitch has severely hampered the airport’s operational capacity, leading to widespread travel chaos and prompting airlines to issue urgent advisories.
What Caused the Delhi Airport Flight Delays?
The disruption stems from a major technical snag in the primary flight data processing system at the Delhi airport ATC. This system is crucial for managing the high volume of take-offs and landings at one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs.
Sources report that with the primary system down, air traffic controllers were forced to switch to manual procedures and backup systems. While these contingency plans ensure passenger safety, they are significantly slower and drastically reduce the number of flights the airport can handle per hour, creating a severe backlog and causing delays across the network.
Airlines Issue Advisories Amidst Travel Chaos
In response to the ATC issue, major airlines have issued travel advisories, urging passengers to stay informed.
- Vistara, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stated, “Due to an ATC system issue at Delhi Airport (DEL), flight arrivals and departures may be delayed. Customers are advised to check their flight status before heading to the airport.”
- IndiGo and Air India released similar statements, advising travellers to monitor their flight status closely and budget for extra time at the airport. Many carriers are also sending proactive SMS and email notifications to passengers affected by the delays.
“Stuck on the Tarmac”: Passengers Face Long Waits
The impact on passengers has been immediate. Departure boards across terminals displayed “Delayed” notifications, and long queues formed at airline counters as travellers sought updates. Many departing passengers reported being stranded on the tarmac for hours.
“We were supposed to take off at 8:30 AM for Mumbai, but we were boarded and then sat on the tarmac for nearly two hours before the pilot announced an indefinite delay due to the ATC issue,” said Anjali Sharma, a frustrated passenger. “The lack of clear information is the most difficult part.”
The ripple effect has extended beyond Delhi, with flights scheduled to arrive in the capital from other cities also facing consequential delays.
Authorities Working to Resolve ATC Snag
Officials from the Airports Authority of India (AAI), which manages Indian airspace, and Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), the airport operator, confirmed the technical issue.
“Our technical teams are on the job to rectify the situation at the earliest,” an AAI official said in a statement. “We are coordinating with all airlines to minimise passenger inconvenience. Safety remains our utmost priority.”
While teams are working to restore the system, experts predict it will take several hours for operations to return to normal as the backlog of delayed and rescheduled flights needs to be cleared. This could lead to continued congestion throughout the day. Travellers flying to or from Delhi are advised to exercise patience and check with their airline for the most current information.
