Delhi Airport 'up & functional' after technical glitch delays 800 flights, Mumbai, Lucknow & others affected

Normal operations are gradually resuming at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) following a major technical malfunction that caused widespread flight delays and disruptions on Friday, November 7, 2025. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) announced late Friday that the technical issue affecting the Air Traffic Control (ATC) system had been resolved and that the Automatic Message Switching System (AMSS) was "up and functional". However, passengers are still advised to check with their respective airlines for updated flight information, as backlogs may continue to cause some delays.

The disruption began on November 6, 2025, due to a technical glitch in the IP-based AMSS system, which is crucial for processing flight plans and ensuring seamless communication between air traffic controllers. The AMSS system contains flight plans and weather data. This failure forced air traffic controllers to switch to manual operations, leading to significant delays and airspace congestion.

The impact of the technical issue was substantial. Over 800 flights were delayed, and some were canceled, causing chaos and leaving thousands of passengers stranded at the airport. Both domestic and international flights were affected, with long queues forming at boarding gates as travelers anxiously awaited updates. According to Flightradar24 data, the average departure delay at Delhi was around 87 minutes, and arrivals were delayed by an average of 40 minutes.

The ripple effect of the Delhi airport disruption was felt across the country. Several other airports, including Mumbai, Jaipur, Lucknow, and Varanasi, experienced delays as flights originating from Delhi were unable to stay on schedule. Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) issued and then retracted a passenger advisory regarding the impact of the Delhi glitch on its operations. Jaipur Airport reported at least 15 delayed flights and issued an advisory to passengers. Lucknow Airport also faced disruptions, with passengers creating a commotion due to long delays.

In response to the crisis, the AAI engaged the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and deployed additional staff to manually process flight plans for the Air Traffic Control system. A team of ECIL officials and AAI personnel remained on-site to monitor the system's stability and performance. A review meeting was conducted by the Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) with the Chairman of AAI and other officials to address the issues.

Airlines, including IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air, issued advisories to passengers, regretting the inconvenience and urging them to check their flight schedules regularly. Air India stated that its cabin crew and on-ground staff were providing immediate assistance to reduce passenger inconvenience.

While the AMSS is now functional, the AAI has cautioned that some delays may persist due to backlogs in automated operations. The aviation body has assured that the situation will return to normal soon. Passengers are advised to stay in contact with their respective airlines for the most up-to-date information regarding their flight schedules.