Low-cost carriers Akasa Air and SpiceJet have warned passengers of cascading delays after torrential monsoon rains hit Mumbai and thunderstorms battered Dharamshala on 30 June. In coordinated social-media posts and customer emails, both airlines advised travellers to check flight status and allow extra time for airport transfers, noting that network-wide knock-on effects were likely. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport reported visibility below 1,200 metres and temporary runway closures for water clearance, forcing holding patterns and diversions to Ahmedabad and Goa. Meanwhile, Dharamshala’s Gaggal airport, a key gateway for IT outsourcing firms with hill-station campuses, saw multiple cancellations amid gusty cross-winds. The India Meteorological Department forecasts heavier rainfall through the first week of July across Maharashtra and Himachal Pradesh. Airlines have activated waiver policies allowing free date changes for travel up to 3 July on affected sectors. Companies with time-critical movements—especially in pharma, film production and cricket broadcasting—are activating contingency routings via Pune or Chandigarh and booking buffer hotel nights. Travel-risk consultants warn that prolonged ground delays could trigger crew-duty-time exceedances, leading to rolling cancellations even after weather improves. Global mobility teams relocating staff this week are advised to reconfirm household-goods delivery slots and short-stay accommodation, as arrival times may shift at short notice. Looking ahead, India’s civil aviation regulator is evaluating whether to mandate additional fuel uplift during peak monsoon periods—a move that could alter payload limits on ultralong-haul flights from Western hubs into Mumbai.
Source: Hindustan Times / ANI
