Technical glitch at Delhi airport hits all airlines, over 800 flights delayed

Delhi: Over 800 domestic and international flights were delayed at the Delhi airport due to a technical glitch in the air traffic control system on Thursday. Officials said all airline operations at the airport were affected, and authorities are working to fix the issue.

IndiGo, Air India, Air India Express, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air confirmed delays in their flight operations. Sources said around 20 flights were cancelled. Passengers have been advised to check the status of their flights with the respective airlines before heading to the airport.

The Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in Delhi, the country’s busiest, handles more than 1,500 flight movements daily.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) said the disruptions were caused by a technical issue in the Automatic Message Switching System (AMSS), which supports air traffic control data.

“Flight operations at Delhi Airport are experiencing delays due to a technical issue in the Automatic Message Switching System (AMSS), which supports Air Traffic Control data. Controllers are processing flight plans manually, leading to some delays. Technical teams are working to restore the system at the earliest. We appreciate the understanding and cooperation of all passengers and stakeholders,” the AAI said in a post on X.

The glitch also affected flight operations at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, which rely on AMSS connectivity with Delhi.

Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) said operations were disrupted due to an ongoing issue with the AMSS, which supports the ATC flight planning process.

Hundreds of passengers in long queues

According to sources, long queues were seen near boarding gates, and hundreds of passengers were waiting inside terminals for flight updates. Air traffic controllers have been processing flight plans manually since Thursday evening, a time-consuming process that has led to significant delays and air traffic congestion.

Data from Flightradar24.com showed more than 800 flights delayed at IGI Airport, with the average delay for departures around 50 minutes.

IndiGo Airlines confirmed that its flights operated in northern India are currently experiencing delays due to a technical issue with AMSS.