Ripple Effect of Delhi ATC Glitch Grounds 40 Flights at Ahmedabad Airport
The technical snag at Delhi’s air traffic control continued to disrupt air travel nationwide, with Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International (SVPI) airport reporting 40 delayed flights on Saturday. This follows 70 delays and six cancellations at the city airport on Friday.
Key Takeaways
- 40 flights delayed at SVPI airport on Saturday
- Follows 70 delays and 6 cancellations on Friday
- 700+ flight movements impacted nationwide
- Delays affected major domestic and international routes
Passenger Woes Continue
Rotational delays from Friday’s disruption continued to impact flight operations in Ahmedabad, leaving passengers dealing with rescheduled departures, anxious waits, and long queues.
“My flight from Mumbai to Vadodara was cancelled at the last moment. I had to extend my stay by a day and later book another ticket for Sunday morning. It was a weekend, so I didn’t risk booking a flight for Saturday as it might also be delayed due to the cascading effect of Friday,” Adit Parikh, a Vadodara resident, told TOI.
Widespread Impact
The disruption affected key routes including Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Goa, Srinagar, Chennai, Lucknow, Kolkata, and Dubai among others.
Airport Response
SVPI airport authorities deployed additional staff to manage passenger flow, made regular announcements, and coordinated with airlines to streamline boarding processes.
“Though the glitch was resolved in Delhi, the rotation cycle of aircraft was thrown off. Since many flights operate on a tight turnaround, it took time for schedules to realign,” airport sources said.
The congestion began easing by early morning, with Ahmedabad travelers hoping for normal operations to resume over the weekend.
