Nagpur Airport Hit by Major Flight Delays, Passengers Express Outrage
Flight operations at Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport in Nagpur faced significant disruption on Friday, with airport officials confirming that 10 out of 35 departing services were delayed. The delays, which ranged from 30 minutes to over three hours, were attributed to a combination of operational constraints and adverse weather conditions.
Widespread Impact Across Domestic and International Sectors
Data revealed that both domestic and international flights were affected, throwing the travel plans of hundreds of passengers into disarray. The disruptions occurred amid continued irregularity in flight schedules over the past few days, exacerbating frustrations among travelers.
Worst-Hit Flights and Specific Delay Details
The most severely impacted service was Star Air's S5191 flight from Nagpur to Kishangarh, which departed a staggering 3 hours and 5 minutes behind schedule. Other notable delays included:
- Air India Express flight IX2098 to Bengaluru: delayed by 1 hour and 39 minutes
- IndiGo flight 6E6697 Nagpur–Delhi: delayed by 2 hours and 20 minutes
- IndiGo flight 6E659 Nagpur–Mumbai: delayed by 1 hour and 35 minutes
- IndiGo flight 6E2739 Nagpur–Mumbai: delayed by 1 hour and 7 minutes
- IndiGo flight 6E462 Nagpur–Mumbai: delayed by 1 hour and 1 minute
Additional domestic departures that experienced delays included:
- IndiGo flight 6E2099 Nagpur–Delhi: 57 minutes late
- IndiGo flight 6E7273 Nagpur–Indore: 46 minutes late
- IndiGo flight 6E157 Nagpur–Delhi: 43 minutes late
- IndiGo flight 6E6618 Nagpur–Delhi: 40 minutes late
Passenger Reactions and Growing Concerns
The repeated delays triggered sharp reactions from passengers, many of whom questioned the reliability of air travel from Nagpur. Frequent flyers reported that flight schedules have become increasingly unpredictable over the past year, leaving travelers uncertain about whether services will depart on time or face extended hold-ups.
Passengers emphasized that air travel is typically chosen to save time or meet urgent needs related to education, employment, or medical emergencies. With fares to major cities currently ranging between Rs 4,500 and Rs 5,500 per passenger, many expressed that frequent delays make the cost difficult to justify.
"If flights are delayed so often, one wonders why we should fly at all," said several stranded passengers, highlighting the growing disillusionment with air travel reliability from the Nagpur airport.
Broader Context of Aviation Irregularities
The Friday disruptions add to a pattern of irregular flight operations that have plagued the airport in recent days. This incident raises questions about operational efficiency and passenger service standards at regional aviation hubs across India.
