According to sources, Delhi International Airport Limited i.e. DIAL has temporarily given additional slots to some foreign airlines in view of the disruptions in flights and lack of capacity due to the ongoing crisis in West Asia. The purpose of this step is to handle the increasing passenger demand and maintain smooth airport operations. At Indira Gandhi International Airport or IGIA, the country’s largest airport, additional slots have been allotted to airlines like KLM and Air Canada for April and May. However, detailed information in this regard has not been revealed yet.
Impact of West Asia crisis
The Middle East crisis – involving the US, Israel and Iran – which began on February 28, has led to restrictions on the airspace of many countries and increased operational complexities. Due to this, many flights have been affected and many airlines have cut services passing through the region.
limited impact expected
According to the report of S&P Global Ratings, at present this crisis is likely to have limited impact on the passenger traffic of Delhi Airport. The report said that DIAL has temporarily allotted slots of some Indian and Gulf airlines to other airlines for 2-3 weeks. The company intends to continue this arrangement until the situation returns to normal, so that the impact on operations can be minimized. According to the report, around 28% of Delhi airport’s international passengers and 7-8% of total traffic are connected to this sector.
traffic improvement
Flights were significantly disrupted in the initial weeks of the conflict, but airlines later took alternative routes avoiding Middle East airspace. Due to this, there was a gradual improvement in passenger traffic. The report also said that transit flights, which account for 25-30% of the total traffic between Delhi and the Middle East, are now being operated through alternative routes.
British Airways additional flights
Meanwhile, British Airways has also announced additional flights in view of the increasing demand. A third daily flight will be operated from Delhi to London Heathrow from April 7 to May 31. At the same time, a third daily flight will be available from Mumbai to London Heathrow from May 15 to May 31.