Cyclone Arnab alert: Flights to Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada cancelled as Andhra braces for storm; check details

Flight operations at Visakhapatnam airport were suspended on Tuesday afternoon, while services at Vijayawada and Rajahmundry airports were halted after 7 pm as Cyclone Arnab approached the Andhra Pradesh coast, the civil aviation ministry said.

Flights to and from coastal Andhra Pradesh and southern Odisha, including Bhubaneswar, are expected to be the most affected.

Hyderabad, Varanasi, Prayagraj and Gorakhpur could also experience knock-on delays depending on the storm's track.

Air India cancelled six flights on the Delhi-Visakhapatnam-Delhi route on October 27 and the Delhi-Vijayawada-Delhi route on October 28.

Air India Express cancelled 13 flights, mostly services connecting Visakhapatnam with Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Vijayawada.

The cancellations also include the Varanasi-Bangkok and Bangkok-Visakhapatnam routes.

IndiGo has suspended all flights at Visakhapatnam and services at Vijayawada and Rajahmundry after 7 pm on October 27. The ministry said cancellation figures were provisional.

Akasa Air cancelled its Delhi-Bhogapuram and return services scheduled for October 28, while its other flights were expected to operate. Alliance Air reported normal operations, with no cancellations so far.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation reviewed the situation and aviation preparedness on Tuesday night, following India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts that Cyclonic Storm Arnab could intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm before crossing the Andhra Pradesh coast on October 28.

The storm is expected to bring winds of 125-135 kmph, with gusts reaching up to 150 kmph, the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry advised airlines to follow operational guidelines for adverse weather conditions, keep passengers informed about delays and cancellations, and comply with applicable rules on rebooking and refunds.

Passengers have been advised to check their flight status on airline websites, mobile applications, helplines or through SMS before leaving for the airport. They have also been urged not to travel unless their flight is confirmed and to allow additional time for their journey.

Waterlogging and road closures are likely in coastal Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, which could affect access to airports, the ministry said.

The civil aviation secretary also advised airlines and airport operators to extend all possible assistance to passengers, particularly senior citizens, persons with reduced mobility, parents travelling with infants and those requiring medical assistance.

Passengers with unresolved complaints have been asked to approach the airline first and subsequently use the AirSewa portal or application.