Hindon Civil Terminal Flight Services Remain Reduced Months After Winter Disruptions
Flight services at the Hindon civil terminal in Ghaziabad continue to operate at reduced capacity, months after winter disruptions forced airlines to scale down their operations. Several suspended routes have yet to be restored, creating ongoing challenges for passengers and the terminal's growth momentum.
Winter Disruptions Lead to Lasting Reductions
In January, daily flight movements from the terminal were significantly reduced from 20 to just 12 due to cold-weather conditions that severely affected schedules. While airlines had initially indicated that operations would resume following summer rescheduling, the suspended routes have not returned as anticipated.
Air India Express and IndiGo, the two major airlines operating from the terminal, had halted flights to several cities during the winter season. According to terminal director Chilka Mahesh, Air India Express is currently operating only on the Mumbai and Bengaluru routes. Until December last year, the airline also provided services to Kolkata, Goa, Chennai, Patna, and Bhubaneswar.
Current Operational Status of Major Airlines
IndiGo, which had earlier suspended operations on three routes including Indore, Kolkata, and one of its Mumbai flights, is currently running services to seven cities. These destinations include Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Varanasi, and Patna.
There has been no official statement from Air India Express explaining the continued suspension of several routes. However, sources within the Airports Authority of India have revealed that the airline is currently refurbishing at least 18 aircraft, which may have contributed to the reduced operations from Hindon.
Regional Carriers Maintain Limited Services
Regional carriers continue to maintain limited services from the terminal. Star Air operates flights to Nanded, Adampur, and Kishangarh, while FlyBig Airlines stopped operating its Bathinda and Ludhiana routes last year.
Impact on Terminal Growth and Passenger Footfall
When the terminal opened in 2019 under the government's regional connectivity programme, it handled approximately 8,000 passengers annually. Footfall later increased significantly to nearly 80,000 passengers per year after Air India Express and IndiGo expanded their services.
However, repeated winter disruptions and flight cancellations have slowed that growth momentum for the terminal, which is being promoted as the third airport serving the National Capital Region alongside IGI Airport and the upcoming Noida airport.
The ongoing reduction in services presents challenges for the terminal's development and passenger convenience, highlighting the need for more stable operations and route restoration to fulfill its regional connectivity objectives.
