Aviation ministry suspends ops at three Andhra airports as Cyclone Arnab intensifies

File photo: Two people holding an umbrella brave strong winds and rain as high tide waves hit the coast ahead of the impending landfall of cyclonic storm 'Arnab', in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. NEW DELHI: The ministry of civil aviation on Tuesday reviewed aviation safety and operational readiness as Cyclone Arnab is expected to intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm and cross the Andhra Pradesh coast on October 28, bringing winds of 125–135 kmph and gusts of up to 150 kmph, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).In a statement issued by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), the ministry said flights to and from coastal Andhra Pradesh and southern Odisha, including Bhubaneswar, were expected to be among the most affected. Hyderabad, Varanasi, Prayagraj and Gorakhpur could also see knock-on delays depending on the storm’s track. The ministry reviewed preparedness with the Airports Authority of India (AAI), Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), IMD, airlines, airport operators, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and disaster management authorities in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal, among other agencies. Flight operations suspended at three Andhra airports According to the ministry, operations at Visakhapatnam airport were suspended from the afternoon of October 27. Flights at Vijayawada and Rajahmundry airports were suspended after 7pm the same day. The Delhi–Bhogapuram–Delhi service has also been cancelled for October 28.Airlines have announced cancellations and operational changes:Air India: Six cancellations on the Delhi–Visakhapatnam–Delhi route on October 27 and the Delhi–Vijayawada–Delhi route on October 28. Air India Express: Thirteen cancellations, mainly affecting Visakhapatnam services to and from Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Vijayawada. Varanasi–Bangkok and Bangkok–Visakhapatnam flights have also been cancelled.IndiGo: All flights at Visakhapatnam have been suspended, along with services at Vijayawada and Rajahmundry after 7pm on October 27. The ministry said cancellation figures were provisional.Akasa Air: Delhi–Bhogapuram and return flights scheduled for October 28 have been cancelled. All other flights were expected to operate.Alliance Air: Operations were continuing normally, with no cancellations reported so far. Passengers advised to check flight status The ministry has advised airlines to follow operational guidelines for adverse weather, inform passengers about delays and cancellations, and comply with applicable rebooking and refund rules. Passengers have been urged to check their flight status through their airline’s website, app, helpline or SMS before leaving for the airport, and not to travel unless their flight is confirmed. They have also been advised to allow extra time for their journeys, as waterlogging and road closures are likely in coastal Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.The ministry said the aviation secretary had asked airlines and airport operators to provide additional assistance to senior citizens, persons with reduced mobility, parents travelling with infants and passengers requiring medical support.Passengers with unresolved complaints have been advised to approach the airline first and then escalate the matter through the AirSewa portal or app.The ministry said passenger safety remained its top priority and that further updates would be issued as weather conditions changed. Prisha Patnaik is a journalist with The Times of India, writing across geopolitics, international affairs, culture, history and internet culture. With over two years of experience in social media and digital content, she is interested in how news, politics and culture are shaped for digital audiences. She holds a master’s degree in Media and Communications from Goldsmiths, University of London.