Heavy air traffic at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Sunday morning, seven flights that were scheduled to land were unable to do so.
As a result, they had to hover above the airport for some time before landing.Airline sources said the ongoing construction of the taxiway on the runway was also affecting airline operations.
Sources said the aircraft traffic is heavy at the airport on weekends with a flight being cleared for take-off or landing every 10 to 15 minutes.
Flight congestion took place on Sunday morning
On Sunday morning, between 7.30 and 8.30 a.m., Air Traffic Control (ATC) cleared an aircraft for takeoff every 10 minutes. Because the runway was congested with takeoff flights, those wishing to land were unable to obtain clearance.
This resulted in seven flights of airlines like Indigo, Vistara and Emeritus having to hover over the airport during different periods.
Apart from this, sources said, the ongoing construction work of the taxiway on the runway also results in repeated flight delays.
Delays burn ATF, escalate costs for airlines
A source said that when a flight has to hover above the airport waiting to get permission to land it results in wastage of air turbine fuel which adds to the overall expense of an airline.
Seven flights that were impacted
• Mumbai-Ahmedabad (Indigo)
• Kolkata-Ahmedabad, (Indigo)
• Hyderabad-Ahmedabad, (Indigo)
• Delhi-Ahmedabad, (Indigo)
• Mumbai-Ahmedabad, (Vistara)
• Delhi-Ahmedabad, (Vistara)
• Dubai-Ahmedabad, (Emirates)