T3-hit Air India withdraws four winter flights

New Delhi: With the staff and crew shortage yet to be sorted out, delays continue to plague Air India’s domestic operations at Terminal 3 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport, forcing the national carrier to withdraw at least four flights from its winter schedule within a month of its launch.
While independent sources said at least six flights have been withdrawn by the airline, an airline spokesperson said four flights from its winter schedule would be withdrawn with effect from December 1, due to reasons like foggy weather and low-visibility conditions over Delhi and other domestic destinations. “Of the 107 flights operating in the winter schedule, four are to be withdrawn from December 1 to locations like Patna, Mumbai, Jaipur and Kolkata,” an AI official said.
Having witnessed several stormy scenes at T3 since the shift, the flight to Patna is being withdrawn due to connectivity issues and weather conditions at the Delhi Airport. One flight each to Patna and Kolkata would also be withdrawn by the airline from December 15 to January 31.
“Others include a flight to Mumbai and the 6 am flight to Jaipur,” said an official. These are also the flights that use smaller aircraft, which are not Category-III compliant, to operate in the dense fog conditions of Delhi that usually prevail after December 15.
22/11/10 Geeta Gupta/Indian Express

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Categories: Air India Nov 2010, Airports Nov 2010