Rain Check, Captain: Air India, IndiGo & SpiceJet Hit by Monsoon Mayhem

Key Highlights

 

As the Southwest Monsoon reached Delhi-NCR on July 16, bringing relief from a persisting heatwave, the city's three principal airlines—Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet—issued urgent notices to travelers regarding significant delays in flights and possible disruptions at Indira Gandhi International Airport.

 

Impact on Flight Operations

 

Squally winds, thunderstorms, and heavy rain pounded parts of Delhi, as the India Meteorological Department forecast more foul weather and wind gusts of 60 km/h. The rain led to massive waterlogging and traffic congestion, also contributing to airport approach problems for travelers.

 

By afternoon, a minimum of five flights, including those run by Air India and IndiGo, were diverted to alternative airports such as Jaipur and Amritsar. Nearly 200 flights were delayed according to airport and social media reports, indicating the extent of disruption.

 

Airline Notices and Traveler Instructions

 

Air India notified fliers on social media to verify the status of their flights before traveling to the airport, attributing the disruption in schedules to rain and gusty winds. IndiGo also repeated the advisory, requesting customers to track the status updates through their app or website, despite the fact that operations were mostly on time earlier in the day.

 

SpiceJet also alerted passengers in affected cities, requesting them to include extra time for traffic and potential delays in boarding, as waterlogging and congestion contributed to the distress of airport travel.

 

All airlines once again stressed the need for monitoring live flight information and being ready for eleventh-hour modifications owing to the volatile weather conditions.

 

Weather and Travel Forecast

 

The IMD stated that rain would persist, including light to moderate showers with a chance of thunderstorms, lightning, and winds. The minimum temperature dipped to around 24.5°C, with the air quality remaining satisfactory. The unfavorable weather is likely to affect flight timetables for the next few hours, if not more, so caution and flexibility are essential for travelers departing.

 

Sources: Times of India, News18, Hindustan Times