Hindon Airport in Ghaziabad is facing a significant reduction in its commercial flight operations. Out of the 25 flights that were initially started around April and May last year, only 7 to 8 flights are currently operational. Air India Express has completely withdrawn its services from the civil terminal within a year of starting, leaving many travelers without direct connectivity to major cities.
Why did Air India Express stop operations at Hindon?
The airline has cited a shortage of aircraft, often referred to as fleet unavailability, as the primary reason for closing its services. Airport officials mentioned that although summer slots were already booked, the airline failed to provide specific flight timings despite multiple letters and reminders. Since Air India Express has stopped its flights, direct connectivity to cities like Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Patna has ended. Previously, the airline operated on 10 different routes including Goa, Jaipur, Varanasi, and Bengaluru.
Current flight status and operational challenges
While some airlines have left, others are still managing limited operations from the terminal. The airport management is currently in talks with various airlines to restart services on different routes in the near future. Below is the current status of airlines at Hindon Airport:
| Airline Name | Current Status and Routes |
|---|---|
| Indigo | Operating flights to Bengaluru, Varanasi, Kolkata, Chennai, and Navi Mumbai. |
| Star Air | Operating to Adampur and Nanded. Kishangarh route may restart from April 15. |
| Air India Express | Completely stopped all operations from Hindon Civil Terminal. |
| Flybig | No longer operating any flights from this airport. |
There are several challenges that make operations difficult at Hindon. As it is an Indian Air Force airbase, civil flights are only allowed between sunrise and sunset, meaning no night landings or take-offs. Additionally, the lack of an advanced landing system leads to frequent cancellations during the winter fog. Airlines are also prioritizing routes with higher profit margins, and Hindon has struggled to meet passenger volume expectations for certain cities.
