In the news for all the wrong reasons in recent times, Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International (SVPI) airport is now drawing flak for delayed flights, which is becoming quite pronounced now.
A delay is likely for 14 of every 100 flights departing from the airport. It is estimated that 14% of flights departing from the city airport were delayed in the first quarter of fiscal year 2023-24.
For different airlines, the on-time performance (OTP) ranges from 70% to 97%, indicating a delay of 3 per cent to 30 per cent, said airport sources.
According to the OTP data, Alliance Air (70%), Air India (70%), SpiceJet (80%), and Star Air (80%), accounted for most delays. On the other hand, IndiGo, which operates the highest number of flights at the city airport, posted a 90% on-time performance.
Akasa Air and Vistara had 97% and 95% OTP, reflecting minimal delay. Akasa Air was among the domestic airlines that was recently awarded by SVPI airport for better performance.
In most cases, a delay is reported due to bad weather conditions in addition to technical glitches. Incoming flights getting delayed due to operational issues including occasional server failures and crew availability are among common reasons for departure delays. These were particularly high in June because of heavy rainfall and cyclonic conditions in parts of Gujarat, sources added.
According to airport sources, delays by the air traffic controller (ATC) in giving take-off clearances to flights or flights transiting from or to busier airports like Delhi and Mumbai, where air traffic is significantly high and clearances take time also cause delays in Ahmedabad airport.
Airlines as well as the airport operator are increasingly making efforts to ensure flight delays are minimal.
SVPI airport operator has also made a slew of infrastructural changes including introduction of e-gates, implementation of Digi Yatra, increasing the security checkpoints and security hold areas and increasing the number of baggage drop counters to expedite passenger transit within the airport.
“We have also recently begun rewarding airlines to encourage them to improve their on-time performance time and again,” said an airport official.
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