Delhi Airport Flight Delays: Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) faced major disruptions recently as more than 400 flights were delayed, leaving passengers stranded and frustrated. The chaos was triggered by a technical fault in the airport’s core communication system, highlighting how critical infrastructure keeps flights running smoothly.
What Caused the Delays?
The disruption was caused by a failure in the Automatic Message Switching System (AMSS). This system handles essential communications between airlines, air traffic control (ATC), and flight planning operations. When it went down, controllers had to process flight plans manually, which slowed operations drastically. With the AMSS out of service, both departures and arrivals were delayed. Airlines had to coordinate flights the old-fashioned way through manual messaging and verification, causing a significant backlog.
Who Was Affected?
All airlines operating at IGI, including IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Air India, reported flight delays. Both domestic and international flights were impacted. Some passengers had to wait 50–60 minutes or longer for boarding and takeoff due to the slowdown caused by manual flight plan processing. Terminals were crowded as check-ins, security, and boarding processes slowed down. Passengers faced long queues and uncertainty while airlines tried to manage schedules.
What Are Authorities Doing?
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Delhi International Airport Ltd. (DIAL) confirmed that technical teams were working to restore the AMSS system as quickly as possible. In the meantime, ATC controllers are manually coordinating flights, which, while effective, is much slower than the automated system.
Passengers were advised to:
- Regularly check their flight status online or via airline apps.
- Arrive earlier than usual at the airport.
- Keep in touch with airline staff for updates.
- Be prepared for rescheduled or delayed flights.
Why This Glitch Matters?
The AMSS is a critical system that ensures flights take off and land on time. Delhi IGI is one of the busiest airports in India, handling 1,500+ flights daily. When such a system fails, the ripple effect is massive, affecting hundreds of flights and thousands of passengers. This incident highlights the importance of technology in aviation and how even a small glitch can cause major disruption.
