Flight operations at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) descended into chaos on Friday morning after a major glitch in the Air Traffic Control (ATC) system caused widespread disruptions. According to airport authorities, over 100 flights were delayed, leaving passengers stranded and prompting frustration across terminals.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Delhi Airport confirmed the disruption, stating, “Due to a technical issue with the Air Traffic Control (ATC) system, flight operations at IGIA are experiencing delays. The team is working with all stakeholders, including DIAL, to resolve the issue at the earliest. Passengers are advised to stay in touch with their airlines for the latest flight updates.”
The airport also expressed regret for the inconvenience caused, assuring that efforts were underway to restore normal operations quickly.
Air Traffic Control (ATC) plays a crucial role in coordinating and guiding the movement of aircraft on the ground and in controlled airspace. Even a brief malfunction can cause a ripple effect, delaying take-offs, landings, and overall scheduling.
Meanwhile, in a separate development, Air India announced a “Flexi Contract for Pilots”—a new work model that allows flight crew to opt for shorter duty patterns while maintaining operational efficiency. The initiative, aimed at enhancing work-life balance, applies to Line Pilots and Line Training Captains on A320, B777, and A350 fleets.
Under the new policy, wide-body pilots will follow a 15 days on–15 days off schedule, while narrow-body pilots will operate on a 20 days on–10 days off pattern. The 12-month contracts are extendable and can be reverted to the original terms at the company’s discretion.
As of Friday afternoon, flight operations at Delhi Airport were gradually resuming, though delays were expected to continue for several hours as air traffic controllers worked to clear the backlog and stabilize the system.
