Severe Weather Disrupts Aviation Network

Flight operations across coastal Andhra Pradesh and southern Odisha faced massive disruptions as Cyclone Arnab intensified into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm. The Ministry of Civil Aviation, following a high-level review meeting with key stakeholders, confirmed that adverse weather conditions and strong winds prompted immediate safety suspensions at multiple regional airports.

According to updates from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the cyclone is projected to bring sustained wind speeds of 125 to 135 kmph, with violent gusts reaching up to 150 kmph, before making landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast.

Airport Closures and Suspensions

Operational suspensions have been enforced across several critical aviation hubs:

* Visakhapatnam: All flight operations remain suspended since the afternoon of October 27. * Vijayawada and Rajahmundry: Commercial services were halted following evening closures. * Bhogapuram: The Delhi–Bhogapuram–Delhi scheduled service has been cancelled.

Consequential delays are also anticipated at secondary hubs including Hyderabad, Varanasi, Prayagraj, and Gorakhpur depending on the precise trajectory of the storm.

Major Airline Responses

Major domestic carriers have announced widespread cancellations and itinerary modifications:

* Air India: Implemented multiple cancellations across the Delhi–Visakhapatnam and Delhi–Vijayawada sectors. * Air India Express: Cancelled over a dozen flights connecting Visakhapatnam to regional metros such as Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Vijayawada, alongside international route adjustments. * IndiGo: Suspended all services out of Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, and Rajahmundry. * Akasa Air: Cancelled its scheduled Delhi–Bhogapuram service, while other routes remain under constant review.

Government and Disaster Management Coordination

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has emphasized strict coordination among the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and local disaster management authorities.

Authorities have strongly advised passengers to verify flight statuses directly through official airline channels before departing for airports. Furthermore, airport operators and airlines have been instructed to extend specialized assistance to vulnerable demographics, including senior citizens, passengers with reduced mobility, and those requiring urgent medical support, as heavy rainfall and potential waterlogging threaten ground infrastructure access.