Delhi Airport Passengers Face Chaos Amid Major Tech Glitch at T3
New Delhi: Passengers at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI), one of the world’s busiest hubs, are facing major disruptions and long queues after a significant technical glitch crippled operations at Terminal 3 on Tuesday morning. The system-wide outage has severely impacted check-in and baggage handling, forcing a switch to manual processing and prompting major airlines like Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet to issue urgent travel advisories.
The problem, which began in the early hours, appears to have affected the airport’s core IT infrastructure. Visuals from T3 show thousands of frustrated travellers in snaking queues that extend far beyond check-in counters. With digital display boards reportedly frozen or blank, confusion has added to the growing passenger distress.
Airlines Issue Urgent Travel Advisories
In response to the escalating situation, India’s leading airlines took to social media to manage passenger expectations and provide critical guidance for those flying from Terminal 3.
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IndiGo: The country’s largest airline warned its flyers of the impact. “Passengers are advised to arrive at the airport at least 3-4 hours prior to their scheduled departure. Please check your flight status before leaving for the airport,” the airline stated.
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Air India: The national carrier advised passengers to prepare for significant delays. “Due to a system outage at Delhi Airport, our check-in and baggage processes are being handled manually. This may result in extended waiting periods. We appreciate your patience and cooperation.”
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SpiceJet: Joining the others, SpiceJet issued a similar advisory, requesting passengers to “reach the airport well in advance to allow for sufficient time for all formalities” due to slower processing.
Official Response from Delhi Airport (DIAL)
A spokesperson for Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), the operator of IGI Airport, acknowledged the disruption and assured passengers that efforts are underway to resolve it.
“Our teams are working on a war footing to resolve the technical issue at the earliest,” a statement read. “We have deployed additional staff to assist passengers and are coordinating closely with all airlines to minimise the inconvenience. We sincerely regret the disruption.”
Passenger Guide: What to Do if You’re Flying from T3
The breakdown is expected to have a cascading effect on flight schedules nationwide. For anyone travelling out of Delhi’s T3 today, the advice is clear:
- Check Flight Status: Before leaving for the airport, confirm your flight’s status directly with your airline.
- Arrive Extremely Early: Heed airline warnings and budget a minimum of 3-4 hours at the airport for processing.
- Travel Light: With baggage systems heavily impacted, checking in luggage is a major bottleneck. If possible, travel with only cabin baggage.
- Pack Your Patience: Manual processing is significantly slower than automated systems. Expect long waits and be prepared.
Technical teams are working to restore normalcy, but for now, significant delays and longer wait times remain the reality for thousands of travellers.
