In response to recent disruptions at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has instructed airlines to ensure that airfares do not experience abnormal increases. This directive comes after operations at Terminal 1 were suspended due to a severe incident early Friday morning, in which the terminal’s roof collapsed due to heavy rainfall.
Union Civil Aviation Minister, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, spearheaded a high-level review meeting with key officials to address the crisis. The meeting resulted in several significant resolutions aimed at maintaining order and protecting passengers’ interests during this period of operational upheaval.
The Ministry has established a dedicated ‘war room’ to manage the situation, ensuring that affected passengers receive full refunds for cancelled flights within seven days. This war room will also oversee the smooth rescheduling of flights without imposing any penalty charges on passengers. The airlines, including IndiGo and SpiceJet, which primarily operate from Terminal 1, have been instructed to relocate their services temporarily to Terminals 2 and 3 to maintain continuity of operations. Minister Kinjarapu stressed the importance of avoiding any undue financial burden on passengers during this critical period. Consequently, airlines have been advised to keep ticket prices stable and refrain from exploiting the situation by inflating fares. The Ministry’s stance is clear: passenger welfare takes precedence, and any opportunistic fare hikes will not be tolerated.
The collapse of the forecourt canopy at Terminal 1 has not only resulted in significant structural damage but also tragically claimed one life and injured eight others. In light of this, the Ministry has also directed the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to conduct thorough inspections of the structural integrity at all major and minor airports nationwide. This proactive measure aims to prevent similar incidents in the future and ensure the safety and security of all airport infrastructures. Data from Cirium, an aviation analytics firm, revealed that 89 flights were scheduled to depart from Terminal 1 on Saturday, with a similar number planned for Sunday. These flights will now be managed from Terminals 2 and 3 until Terminal 1 is deemed safe for resumption of operations.
The recent incident highlights the urgent need for strict maintenance protocols and rapid response mechanisms in aviation infrastructure. The Ministry’s prompt actions are aimed at minimizing the impact on passengers and returning to normal operations as quickly as possible. As investigations proceed, the priority is to uphold fair practices and ensure the safety of all parties involved.
