Airlines' flight cancellations may spike March fares

14 Feb 2024 CW Team

The Ministry of Civil Aviation stated that it had to compel Mumbai Airport to reduce flights. The reason behind this action was the airport's allocation of excessive slots, causing congestion. This situation resulted in aircraft hovering above the airport for up to 60 minutes. The Ministry explained that an airport slot is a designated time for aircraft takeoff or landing.

It was mentioned that the airport operator failed to take measures to organize and regulate air traffic movements. The Ministry of Civil Aviation acknowledged the necessity for government intervention to strike a balance between the needs of airport operators and airlines. The aim is to ensure a satisfying experience for passengers flying from Mumbai Airport.

Following criticism from passengers, the government clarified its decision. Passengers expressed concerns that such actions would lead to an increase in airfares on various routes. In response to the directive from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to ease runway congestion, airlines are preparing to cancel hundreds of flights until March 30. This reduction in flights will result in approximately 40 flights being cut from the middle of this week.

The curfew on the operation of business jets at the airport faced an extension from four to eight hours, sparking protests from major corporate entities like Reliance, JSW, and the Mahindra group. Mumbai Airport, with a single runway, handles more flights than any other airport. In December, it recorded its highest monthly traffic of 4.88 million passengers.

Akasa Air announced the cancellation of two flights daily until the end of the next month.

Infrastructure Urban

28 Oct 2025

GST Bachat Utsav Showcases Nationwide Relief and Growth Momentum

Union Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman, Piyush Goyal, and Ashwini Vaishnaw jointly addressed a press conference in New Delhi on the GST Bachat Utsav, underscoring the far-reaching benefits of the Next-Generation GST reforms implemented ahead of Diwali.Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that the revised GST rates—effective from the first day of Navratri—have simplified compliance by reducing slabs from four to two and ensuring greater benefits to consumers. The Finance Ministry is closely tracking 54 essential items to confirm that the lower tax rates are being passed on fully to end..

Indian Railways Operates 12,000 Special Trains for Festive Rush

Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, reviewed passenger movement at the Railway Board War Room and appreciated staff for their round-the-clock efforts during the festive season. He extended Diwali greetings to railway personnel across the country.To meet the surge in travel demand during Puja, Diwali, and Chhath, Indian Railways has deployed 12,011 special trains—up from 7,724 last year—ensuring smooth and comfortable travel for passengers nationwide. Between 1 and 19 October 2025, 3,960 special..

TRAI Evaluates Mobile Network Quality Across Assam Districts

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released its Independent Drive Test (IDT) report for the Assam Licensed Service Area, evaluating network performance across Silchar city and Hailakandi and Karimganj districts. Conducted between 18 and 22 August 2025, the tests covered 284 km of city routes, 10 hotspot locations, and 2.4 km of walk tests.The assessment, supervised by the TRAI Regional Office, Kolkata, examined real-world service quality across 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G technologies in both urban and rural zones. Key parameters included call setup success rate, drop call rate, laten..