Chaos at Delhi airport, over 350 flights delayed due to congestion

Passengers lined up at Delhi airport as several flights were delayed. (Image: X)

Following a huge dust storm last evening, more than 350 flights were delayed at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in Delhi on Saturday due to traffic congestion.

Operations at the Delhi airport were disrupted on Friday evening due to adverse weather conditions and as a spillover impact, operations have also been hit on Saturday, PTI reported.

Social media users shared pictures and videos of waiting passengers at the airport.

"Flight operations at Delhi Airport are improving; however, a few flights are still impacted due to last night's weather conditions. Our on-ground teams and all stakeholders are working together to minimise any inconvenience to passengers," DIAL said in a post on X.

As per data available on flight tracking website Flightradar24.com, more than 350 flights have been delayed and the average delay for flight departures was over 40 minutes.

"Ongoing air traffic congestion in Delhi is causing flights to be held for takeoff and landing clearance. Due to the consequential impact, a few flights across the network are impacted too," IndiGo said in a post on X at 1332 hours.

Meanwhile, only three runways are operational at the airport now as one runway is closed for maintenance works.

While airlines such as Air India and IndiGo issued advisories on X, many frustrated passengers described their ordeal.

"We had a connecting flight from Srinagar to Delhi to Mumbai at 4 pm. Our flight was scheduled to land in Delhi around 6 pm but was diverted to Chandigarh due to a dust storm. It was then flown back to Delhi at 11 pm," a passenger onboard the Air India flight told NDTV.

Posting a picture of the stranded passengers, a user wrote: "Most mismanaged, misinformed world class international airport, New Delhi...Worse than bus stand".

@airindia@MoCA_GoI@JM_Scindia Most mismanaged, misinformed world class international airport, New Delhi.#INDIRAGandhi.. worse than Bus Stand . pic.twitter.com/uDQilWIfxq

rvind Lal (@lalarvi) April 12, 2025

Another said, "A flight from Delhi hasn't yet departed. You have boarded them on time and made them sit for two hours. Disgusting. Also as per rule you are supposed to provide refreshments if flight is delayed for more than two hours."

@IndiGo6E 6E 2211, 12Apr, DEL(T2)-VNS 0455-0625 HRS hasnt yet departed. You have boarded them on time and made them sit for two hours. Disgusting. Also as per rule you are supposed to provide refreshments if flight is delayed for more than two hours. @Ministry_CA@DGCAIndia (@Swatiisme) April 12, 2025

The only word for @airindia and @DelhiAirportPathetic pathetic pathetic pathetic pathetic Pathetic pathetic pathetic pathetic pathetic Pathetic pathetic pathetic pathetic pathetic Pathetic pathetic pathetic pathetic pathetic Pathetic pathetic pathetic pathetic service

Ashique Ali (@ashiquehunmain) April 11, 2025

A strong dust storm whipped up Delhi and adjoining areas on Friday evening, a day after a dust storm and moderate rain lashed parts of the national capital. The storm caused huge damage in some parts of the capital with branches of trees falling on roads, cars.

Power supply across Delhi-NCR was also affected after branches of trees and other objects fell on the electrical lines. The areas affected included parts of Narela, Bawana, Badli and Mangolpuri, reported news agency ANI.