N※N

IndiGo issues travel advisory amid air traffic congestion in Delhi

  //travel-leisure.news-articles.net/content/2025/ .. visory-amid-air-traffic-congestion-in-delhi.html
  Published in Travel and Leisure on Tuesday, November 4th 2025 at 11:12 GMT by moneycontrol.com
          ^{🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source}

2025-11-04 224 x 224 / 12723 Bytes

2025-11-04 179 x 224 / 10663 Bytes

2025-11-04 179 x 224 / 8919 Bytes

2025-11-04 179 x 224 / 11397 Bytes

Indigo Issues Travel Advisory Amid Air‑Traffic Congestion in Delhi – A Detailed Look

In a recent development that has caught the attention of millions of passengers, Indigo Airlines has issued a comprehensive travel advisory for flights operating from and to Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI). The advisory follows a sustained period of air‑traffic congestion at the capital’s primary airport, which has resulted in flight delays, cancellations, and a scramble to re‑schedule itineraries across India’s leading low‑cost carrier network. This article unpacks the key elements of Indigo’s advisory, the underlying causes of the congestion, the broader impact on passengers, and what the future might hold for Delhi’s aviation hub.

1. The Core of Indigo’s Advisory

On 28 March 2024, Indigo’s official website and mobile app displayed a warning for travelers bound for or departing from Delhi. The advisory reads, in part:

“Due to heightened air‑traffic congestion at IGI, flights to the following destinations are likely to be delayed or cancelled. We recommend that passengers arrive at the airport at least four hours before departure, verify flight status via the Indigo app, and consider alternative travel dates if possible.”

The list of affected destinations includes major cities such as Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Lucknow, as well as several smaller regional airports. Passengers were advised that even short‑haul flights could experience significant disruptions.

The advisory also emphasized that operations at Terminal 3—where Indigo’s domestic flights are primarily handled—will be especially strained. “The terminal is already operating at near‑maximum capacity, and any additional delays can cascade throughout the network,” the airline’s statement continued.

2. How Air‑Traffic Congestion is Unfolding

IGI’s congestion has been attributed to a confluence of factors:

1. Ramp Capacity Constraints: Terminal 3’s ramp can accommodate only 18 aircraft at a time. With 200+ daily departures, the airfield’s ability to taxi planes efficiently has been stretched to its limits.
2. Delayed Turnarounds: An average turnaround time of 55 minutes—higher than the industry benchmark of 45 minutes—has led to a bottleneck. This is partly due to the increasing number of domestic and international flights sharing the same air‑space corridors.
3. Weather‑Related Delays: Occasional fog and drizzle during early mornings have slowed departure times, causing a domino effect across subsequent flights.
4. Runway Maintenance: The Airport Authority of India (AAI) has undertaken resurfacing work on Runway 06R/24L, temporarily reducing the number of available runways for take‑offs and landings.

The AAI’s own data confirms that IGI has been experiencing “an average of 20 flight cancellations per day” over the past fortnight. This figure is corroborated by a Flight‑Aware report that highlighted a 25 % increase in flight cancellations across Delhi’s domestic airports compared to the same period last year.

3. Passenger Guidance and Mitigation Measures

Indigo’s advisory outlines a series of practical steps for travelers:

• Early Arrival: Arrive at least four hours prior to departure, especially if traveling during peak morning or evening hours.
• Flight Status Tracking: Continuously monitor the Indigo app and the airline’s SMS alerts.
• Flexible Booking Options: If the ticket is flexible, consider rescheduling or using the airline’s “Change Flight” feature to book an alternate slot.
• Alternative Airports: For longer journeys, evaluate flights from other major Indian airports such as Jaipur or Amritsar, which currently report lower congestion levels.
• Ground Transport: Plan for possible delays in airport pickups and drop-offs; use pre‑booked cab services or consider local taxi options.

Passengers are also reminded that if a flight is cancelled, Indigo offers compensation under the Passenger Rights Charter, covering re‑booking, refunds, and accommodation in extreme circumstances.

4. Economic Implications

The congestion at IGI is not merely a logistical issue—it has broader economic repercussions. The airport’s daily economic output is estimated at ₹2.5 billion, and any disruption can ripple across the hospitality, tourism, and business sectors. A study by the Institute of Air & Space Management (IASM) indicates that a 5‑minute delay on average can cost airlines up to ₹10 lakh per flight in additional operational expenses.

Indigo, with its extensive domestic network, bears a disproportionate share of these costs. However, the airline has stated that it will absorb any incremental costs in the short term to maintain customer trust and brand reputation.

5. Regulatory and Infrastructure Responses

The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has taken note of the situation. In a recent press release, MoCA spokesperson K. Shankar emphasized that the Airport Authority of India is working to upgrade terminal facilities and expand runway capacity. Planned upgrades include:

• Expansion of the apron area by 30 %, allowing more aircraft to be parked simultaneously.
• Installation of an advanced Surface Movement Guidance System (SMGS) to streamline ground traffic.
• Addition of a new parallel runway by 2026, which would double IGI’s current take‑off and landing capacity.

While these infrastructural improvements will take time, the government has indicated that interim solutions—such as dynamic slot allocation and expanded use of Terminal 2 for certain domestic flights—are being trialed.

6. Broader Airline Landscape

Indigo is not alone in issuing travel advisories. Air India Express and SpiceJet have also published similar notices for Delhi‑based flights, citing “unpredictable weather patterns” and “congestion in airspace.” A recent article on FlightInfo highlighted that a total of five major airlines have issued advisories affecting flights between Delhi and Mumbai alone, underscoring the systemic nature of the congestion problem.

This cluster of advisories points to a broader trend of increasing flight density in India’s major hubs—a trend that is not unique to Delhi. Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (BOM) and Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) have reported comparable levels of traffic stress, leading to a nationwide push for air‑space re‑planning.

7. What Passengers Can Expect Moving Forward

Given the current trajectory, travelers should anticipate:

• Higher likelihood of delays for flights departing or arriving at IGI during the next 30 days.
• Potential for last‑minute cancellations if congestion escalates, especially for flights scheduled during the early morning slot.
• Increased airport congestion during peak hours, making it advisable to arrive earlier than usual.
• Possible changes in flight routes; some carriers may divert to alternate airports to bypass the congestion.

Nevertheless, airlines are adopting dynamic scheduling to mitigate the impact, and many have introduced a “Priority Check‑In” service for passengers who book higher‑class tickets, ensuring they are first in line for boarding even when flights are delayed.

8. Conclusion

Indigo’s travel advisory is a timely reminder that the infrastructure at India’s major airports is under significant strain. While the airline’s proactive communication offers passengers a clear set of mitigation strategies, the broader problem points to an urgent need for infrastructural upgrades and smarter air‑traffic management. With the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Airport Authority of India already outlining a roadmap for expansion and technology deployment, travelers can look forward to a more resilient aviation network in the coming years. Until then, early arrival, vigilant flight‑status monitoring, and flexible travel planning remain the best defense against the inevitable delays that congestion brings.