Hindon Airport Sees Sharp Decline in Daily Flight Operations
Flight services from the Hindon civil terminal in Ghaziabad have experienced a significant reduction, dropping to just 12 daily flights from the previous count of 20. This decline follows the suspension of operations to multiple cities by two major carriers, Air India Express and IndiGo.
Winter Scheduling Blamed for Initial Cuts
Officials attributed the initial curtailment of services to adverse cold weather conditions in January. However, these routes have not been restored since. "Due to winter scheduling, which led to flight cancellations, the two major carriers scaled back services. AI and IndiGo have assured that flights will resume shortly once summer rescheduling begins," stated an official at the Hindon civil terminal.
Until December, the civil terminal operated flights to 16 cities, showcasing a more robust connectivity network.
Route Suspensions by Major Carriers
Air India Express previously served routes to Kolkata, Goa, Jaipur, Chennai, Patna, Varanasi, Mumbai, Bhubaneswar, and Bengaluru. Currently, it is operating only on the Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Patna routes.
IndiGo continues operations on the Varanasi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Patna, Ahmedabad, and Mumbai routes. However, services to Indore, Kolkata, and an additional Mumbai route remain suspended.
Impact on Smaller Airlines and Terminal History
Star Air is now operating on just two routes—Nanded and Adampur—with service to Kishangarh suspended. FlyBig Airlines ceased operations on the Bathinda and Ludhiana routes last year.
The terminal, launched in 2019, has seen passenger footfalls increase from 8,000 to 80,000 per year. Despite this growth, flight services have been scarce and frequently canceled since inception.
Future Uncertain Despite Expansion Plans
The entry of Air India Express and IndiGo on metro routes initially raised hopes for the terminal's future. However, recent suspensions on major routes have cast doubt, especially given the terminal's operational limitations under IAF's dawn-to-dusk restrictions.
In a positive development, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) commenced expansion work last month. The plan includes:
- Increasing check-in and service counters from nine to twelve.
- More than doubling the vehicle kerb area from 3.5 meters to eight meters.
This expansion aims to enhance passenger facilities, but the reduction in flight services poses a challenge to the terminal's utilization and growth prospects.
