Civil Aviation Minister to Meet Airlines Amid Flight Disruptions
Minister K. Rammohan Naidu to hold talks with airlines after major flight delays and airspace closures following India-Pakistan military tensions.
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Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu is scheduled to meet with airline representatives on Tuesday to assess and address ongoing operational disruptions in the aviation sector, officials familiar with the development said.
The discussion comes days after air travel was significantly impacted due to heightened military tensions between India and Pakistan. On Saturday, both nations agreed to immediately halt all land, air, and maritime hostilities.
Flight services were heavily affected as security agencies enforced temporary closures at 32 key airports in northern and western India. Normal operations resumed Monday at these airports, but not before airlines had to cancel more than 300 flights per day over several days.
Airlines also had to reroute multiple international services due to Pakistan’s airspace restrictions, causing extended travel times and increased fuel costs. The civil aviation ministry had previously asked carriers to share assessments of the operational and financial burden. The airlines have submitted their reports.
Sources said the minister's meeting with the carriers will focus on the short- and long-term implications of the disruptions, contingency measures, and coordination on resumption of full-scale services.
Meanwhile, Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), which runs Indira Gandhi International Airport, confirmed that services at the capital’s main airport remain operational. However, it cautioned that enhanced security protocols may result in schedule changes and longer passenger screening times.
As of now, no detailed agenda of the minister's meeting has been officially disclosed.
