New Delhi, Nov 7 (UNI) Things went south for flyers in large numbers on Friday as flight operations at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in New Delhi witnessed delays due to a technical issue concerning the Air Traffic Control.
However, there is no exact official number as to how many flights were delayed, but it is said that the figure could be over a hundred.
According to the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the delays were due to a technical issue that developed in the Automatic Message Switching System (AMSS), which is responsible for supporting the Air Traffic Control (ATC) data.
Due to the issue, the controllers had to switch to manual mode to process the flight plans, leading to delays.
The authority informed that the technical teams were on the job to restore the system at the earliest.
Air traffic control (ATC) refers to a ground-based service in which controllers manage and guide aircraft regarding movement, on the ground and also within the controlled airspace.
The congestion on ground is said to have affected the arrivals as well, causing difficulties for the passengers.
The Delhi Airport also issued an advisory for the passengers on its x handle,stating that flight operations at the airport were disrupted due to an ongoing technical issue, and added that all airline operations have been delayed.
Delhi airport also requested passengers to follow updates from their airlines regarding revised schedules.
Several airlines like Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet issued advisories alerting passengers about possible delays following disruptions in flight operations.
Indigo, in its advisory to the passengers during the afternoon, stated, “The AMSS system issue impacting ATC operations is still being resolved, and delays may continue across airlines at Delhi and a few airports in the northern region until the system is fully restored.”
Air India also expressed, “We regret the inconvenience caused by this unforeseen disruption, which is beyond our control, and appreciate your patience. Our cabin crew and on-ground staff at the airport are extending immediate assistance to reduce passenger inconvenience,” it added.
Passengers reported delays, with extended waiting times both at the airport and on board aircraft.
Earlier this week, the airport reportedly experienced minor disruptions due to third-party connectivity issues affecting check-in systems, which caused delays for a few airlines.
