Over 100 Flights Delayed at Delhi Airport After ATC Glitch; Air India Unveils New Pilot Work Model

New Delhi: Passengers faced major disruptions at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) on Friday morning after a technical malfunction hit the Air Traffic Control (ATC) system, leading to delays in over 100 flights. The issue, which affected both arrivals and departures, prompted airport authorities to coordinate closely with the Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) and ATC teams to restore normal operations.

In a post on X, the Delhi Airport authority confirmed the disruption, stating, “Due to a technical issue with the Air Traffic Control (ATC) system, flight operations at IGIA are experiencing delays. Their team is actively working with all stakeholders, including DIAL, to resolve it at the earliest. Passengers are advised to stay in touch with their respective airlines for the latest flight updates. We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused.”
(Quote Source: Delhi Airport official handle on X)

Airport officials said the glitch temporarily impacted flight scheduling and aircraft movement but emphasized that safety protocols remained fully in place throughout the disruption. Technical teams were mobilized immediately to restore connectivity and resume normal functioning of radar and communication systems.

The Air Traffic Control (ATC) service plays a critical role in ensuring safe takeoffs, landings, and aircraft movement across controlled airspace. Friday’s malfunction, though short-lived, caused a cascading delay across several domestic and international flights during the busy morning schedule.

Meanwhile, in a separate development, Air India announced a new initiative aimed at improving pilot work-life balance. The airline introduced a “Flexi Contract for Pilots” — a model that allows flight crew members to opt for reduced duty cycles without compromising operational efficiency.

Under the new arrangement, Line Pilots and Line Training Captains operating A320, B777, and A350 fleets can choose between two fixed roster patterns: 15 days on/15 days off for wide-body aircraft and 20 days on/10 days off for narrow-body aircraft. Each pattern comes with corresponding leave structures — eight privilege and four sick leaves for wide-body pilots, and 12 privilege and six sick leaves for narrow-body colleagues.

The 12-month contract can be extended at Air India’s discretion, after which pilots may return to their original terms of employment. The airline described the move as a step toward balancing crew well-being with efficient flight operations.