Travel plans for hundreds of passengers were thrown into disarray on Monday as operational and air traffic constraints led to significant disruptions at Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPIA). The issues impacted the schedules of at least 30 flights, both departing and arriving, throughout the day.
Widespread Impact on Key Routes
The disruption was not confined to a few locations but affected a wide network of domestic and international travel. Departures from Ahmedabad to major hubs like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru faced multiple delays, creating a cascading effect on aircraft rotations across the country. Internationally, flights bound for destinations such as Dubai and Bangkok were also caught in the snarl.
On the arrival side, passengers flying in from cities including Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi, Dehradun, and Bangkok reported extended waiting times and rescheduled landings. The list of affected domestic destinations was extensive, covering metros and smaller cities alike:
- Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata
- Jaipur, Chandigarh, Kochi
- Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, Dehradun, Belagavi
Diversion and Contributing Factors
Adding to the day's travel woes, an IndiGo flight operating on the Srinagar to Ahmedabad route was forced to divert. The flight, scheduled to depart Srinagar at 10:50 AM and land in Ahmedabad by 1:05 PM, had not reached its intended destination at the time of reporting and was instead redirected to Delhi.
Airport sources indicated that airlines were dynamically managing their schedules in response to the situation. In their communications, carriers cited a combination of factors behind the disruptions. Poor visibility and adverse weather conditions in parts of northern India were identified as key contributors, leading to rotational delays that rippled through the network.
Passenger Advisory and Normalization
With the dynamic situation, airport authorities and airlines strongly advised passengers to verify their flight's real-time status before heading to the airport. Travelers were urged to remain in direct contact with their respective airlines for the latest updates as operations worked towards gradual normalization.
The incident at one of India's key international airports highlights the vulnerability of air travel networks to interconnected constraints, where issues in one region can quickly affect schedules nationwide. Passengers are left to navigate the uncertainties while hoping for a swift return to regular operations.
