Mumbai airport at the bottom of punctuality list

Even as Mumbai airport is experimenting with new methods to cut down flight delays, domestic fliers taking off and landing at airport faced maximum delays compared to their travel from three other metro airports in the country, revealed the data given by the civil aviation ministry.

Even as Mumbai airport is experimenting with new methods to cut down flight delays, domestic fliers taking off and landing at airport faced maximum delays compared to their travel from three other metro airports in the country, revealed the data given by the civil aviation ministry.

The data on flight punctuality, across four private operators-run metro airports in February, showed that more than one out of four domestic flights operated out of the Mumbai airport missed their schedule, which is the poorest.

Even the Delhi airport, which handles approximately 100, more flight movements in a day did marginally better with 75% of its flights operating on time, the data showed. The Hyderabad airport showed the best punctuality with 82% flights on time followed by Bangalore at 80%, the data stated.

Of the five domestic airlines considered for the analysis three airlines - Air India, Indigo Airlines and GoAir had the poorest on-time performance at Mumbai airport.

The three airlines collectively cater to almost two-third domestic fliers in the country, based on the number of air travellers flown by them in February.

“While the morning peak hour traffic was largely on time, the delays steadily increased from afternoon and got worse during the evening peak hours. We will address the issue during the forthcoming review meet of airport stakeholders,” said a senior air traffic control (ATC) official requesting anonymity.

This data put out by the Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) showed that close to 90% flights operated during the morning peak hours (3am to 9am) were on time.

But, only two-third flights operations during the evening period, stuck to their schedule.

More than 54% of the flights delays in February were caused by multiple factors such as late arrival of incoming aircraft, delays in deputing crew and longer check-in procedures for stopover fliers, also described as ‘reactionary factors’ in aviation parlance, the data added.