At least seven international flights were cancelled, and more than ten others were delayed at Delhi airport on Tuesday due to ash plumes from a volcanic eruption in Ethiopia, disrupting airline operations.
Beginning Monday, Air India has cancelled 13 scheduled flights.
Ash clouds from the recent eruption of Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano are disrupting flight operations, with reports indicating that the clouds may be drifting toward western India.
An official reported that Delhi airport saw seven international flight cancellations and 12 delays as a result of volcanic ash drifting into the region.
With more than 1,500 flights operating every day, Indira Gandhi International Airport is the country’s largest aviation hub.
There was no immediate update on Tuesday from other Indian carriers regarding the situation.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Monday instructed airlines to avoid volcanic ash-affected areas and flight levels and to update flight planning, routing, and fuel arrangements as per the latest guidance.
Meanwhile, a massive volcanic ash cloud generated by the Hayli Gubbi eruption in Ethiopia’s Afar region is moving eastward and is expected to exit Indian airspace by Tuesday evening, officials said.
While the ash poses no threat on the ground, its presence at altitudes between 8.5 km and 15 km (approximately 15,000–45,000 feet) has raised concerns for aviation safety.
The ash plume, carried by high-altitude winds, has already drifted over Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, the northeastern region, and parts of Gujarat. Meteorological forecasts indicate that it will extend further into Rajasthan, northwest Maharashtra, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, and eventually the Himalayan belt.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) and Met Watch Offices in Mumbai, New Delhi, and Kolkata have issued ICAO-standard SIGMET warnings to airports.
The advisories include avoidance of affected airspace and specific flight levels, as outlined in Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) bulletins.
Continuous monitoring of satellite imagery, dispersion models, and meteorological advisories is being used to guide flight planning, rerouting, and fuel calculations.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a detailed safety advisory directing all airlines to avoid the designated ash-affected zones. Airlines have been asked to adjust flight plans, reroute aircraft, and reassess fuel requirements.
Aviation authorities have warned that volcanic ash can melt inside jet engines at extremely high temperatures, potentially causing severe engine damage or failure.
Although Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport is not directly beneath the densest part of the plume, flights linked to the city—including international services over the Arabian Sea and Gulf sectors—may face disruptions.
Several Indian carriers, including IndiGo and Akasa Air, have already diverted or cancelled certain international flights, particularly to Gulf destinations such as Jeddah, Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi.
Officials emphasised that the situation is being continuously monitored, and passengers are advised to check with airlines for updated flight schedules.