Heavy rainfall and low visibility on Monday, July 8, severely disrupted flight operations at the Mumbai airport. At least 50 flights scheduled to land in the country's financial capital have been either cancelled or diverted to several other locations, including Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, and Indore.
The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) issued an advisory for the passengers, directing them to check their flight status.
"Inclement weather at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), Mumbai on July 8, 2024 led to the temporary suspension of runway operations from 02:22 hrs to 03:40 hrs. CSMIA has deployed airport personnel across the Terminals to support passengers and provide them with necessary assistance. As part of our commitment to passenger safety and comfort, CSMIA has also made provision for additional seating and water for passengers. The airport is also in close contact with local authorities," said Mumbai International Airport Ltd.
Taking to microblogging platform X (formerly known as Twitter), CSMIA said, “In light of the inclement weather and forecast of heavy to very heavy rains, #MumbaiAirport advises all the passengers to check their flight status with their respective airlines and leave for the airport a little earlier."
Several airlines have issued specific advisories stating that several flights arriving and departing Mumbai have been delayed, diverted, or cancelled because of the heavy rains. Some airlines have offered the option to seek alternate flights or claim a full refund.
“Due to weather and subsequent air traffic congestion, flights to/from Mumbai are impacted. Do keep a tab on your flight status,” IndiGo wrote in its advisory.
“#6ETravelAdvisory: Flights to/from #Mumbai are impacted due to heavy rains. To opt for an alternate flight or claim a full refund, https://bit.ly/3MxSLeE or feel free to reach out to our on-ground team for any immediate assistance. For flight status, https://bit.ly/3lpnChV,” IndiGo said in a statement on X.
Air India also issued an advisory offering a full refund and the option to reschedule flights.
“Heavy rains in Mumbai are affecting flight operations and resulting in cancellation of some of our flights. Air India is offering full refunds or a one-time complimentary rescheduling for bookings confirmed for travel on 8th July with some conditions. For further assistance please connect with our contact centre at 011 69329333, 011 69329999.”
Vistara also issued an advisory for passengers saying, “#TravelUpdate: Heavy traffic congestion and slow vehicle movement are expected enroute to Mumbai Airport today due to weather conditions. Customers are advised to allow more time for their journey to the airport. Thank you.”
SpiceJet also asked its flyers to check their flight status. The airline posted, “#WeatherUpdate: Due to bad weather (heavy rain) in Mumbai (BOM), all departures/arrivals and their consequential flights may get affected. Passengers are requested to keep a check on their flight status via http://bit.ly/2tG9xBx.”
In another post, the airline wrote, “#TravelAdvisory: Traffic congestion and slow vehicle movement are expected on the Mumbai Airport road due to heavy rains. Passengers travelling to the airport are requested to keep a tab on live traffic and plan their journey accordingly. Check-in counters will positively close 60 minutes prior to departure. Necessary information has been communicated to the impacted passengers on their registered contact details (SMS/Email). All passengers are requested to keep a check on their flight status via http://bit.ly/2tG9xBx.”
Maharashtra's capital city has witnessed heavy showers since yesterday, causing massive waterlogging in several areas, including Worli, Buntara Bhavan, Kurla East, the King's Circle area, and Dadar. There have been reports of waterlogging on several railway tracks, leading to train cancellations and delays.
According to the BMC, Colaba recorded 83. 8 mm of rainfall, and Santacruz recorded 267.9 mm in the past 24 hours. Mumbai city received 2,547 mm of rainfall, 27 per cent of the average annual rain during the same period. The IMD has issued a red alert warning for Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, and Ratnagiri until 4 pm today.
