New Delhi – Air India has confirmed that its operations have returned to normal following a significant technical disruption caused by a third-party system failure that affected check-in processes at multiple airports late on Tuesday. The Air India check-in glitch resulted in delays across several airlines, creating inconvenience for thousands of passengers before the issue was fully resolved.
Third-Party System Fully Restored
In an official statement posted on social media platform X, Air India announced the complete restoration of services. “The third-party system has been fully restored, and check-in at all airports is functioning normally. All our flights are operating as per schedule. We thank our passengers for their understanding,” the airline confirmed.
This announcement brought relief to passengers who had been experiencing delays and disruptions at various airports across the country. The Air India check-in glitch had created significant operational challenges during peak travel hours, affecting the carrier’s ability to process passengers efficiently.
Multiple Airlines Affected by Disruption
The technical failure was not isolated to Air India alone. The carrier had earlier acknowledged that the Air India check-in glitch had resulted in delays across multiple airlines, indicating a widespread system failure affecting the broader aviation ecosystem. This suggested that the third-party system provider serves several airlines operating in Indian airports.
The airline’s airport teams worked diligently throughout the disruption period to ensure a smooth check-in experience for all passengers. “Our airport teams are working diligently to ensure a smooth check-in experience for all passengers,” Air India had stated in an earlier post on X while the crisis was ongoing.
Progressive System Restoration Process
During the resolution phase, Air India had informed passengers that the system was being restored progressively. However, the carrier warned that some flights would continue to experience delays “until the situation fully normalizes.” This gradual restoration approach meant that while some airports saw quicker recovery, others took longer to return to normal operations.
The Air India check-in glitch forced the airline to implement contingency measures at affected airports. Ground staff had to manage increased passenger volumes and longer queues while working with limited system functionality, creating additional pressure on airport operations.
Passenger Advisory and Precautionary Measures
In response to the Air India check-in glitch, the carrier issued advisories requesting passengers to check their flight status before leaving for the airport. The airline also recommended that travelers reach the airport earlier than usual for their journeys to accommodate potential delays in the check-in process.
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These precautionary measures were essential to manage passenger expectations and prevent overcrowding at airports during the system restoration period. The airline’s proactive communication helped minimize confusion among travelers dealing with the unexpected disruption.
Similar Technical Failure Last Month
This incident follows a similar technical disruption that occurred last month at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport. In that instance, over 400 domestic and international flights were delayed after a technical issue affected the Automatic Message Switching System (AMSS), causing massive disruption at one of India’s busiest airports.
The November incident impacted major airlines including Air India, Indigo, and SpiceJet, leading to longer queues and significantly slower operations. The technical issue was detected in the IP-based AMSS system, prompting an immediate review meeting conducted by the Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation with the Chairman of Airports Authority of India, Member ANS, and other officials.
Manual Processing Complications
During the AMSS system failure last month, air traffic controllers were forced to manually prepare flight plans using available data. This time-consuming process resulted in substantial flight delays as controllers worked through each flight’s requirements without automated system support.
The recurring nature of these technical issues raises concerns about the reliability of aviation technology infrastructure and the need for robust backup systems to prevent widespread disruptions.
Impact on Airport Operations
The Air India check-in glitch demonstrated the critical dependence of modern aviation operations on integrated technology systems. When these systems fail, even temporarily, the cascading effects can disrupt thousands of passengers’ travel plans and create operational bottlenecks at airports.
Ground handling staff, check-in personnel, and airline officials had to coordinate closely to manage the situation effectively while the technical teams worked on resolving the Air India check-in glitch.
Looking Forward
While Air India has confirmed that normal operations have resumed and all flights are operating on schedule, the incident highlights the vulnerability of airline operations to third-party system failures. The aviation industry continues to rely heavily on interconnected technology platforms, making system redundancy and rapid response protocols essential for maintaining service reliability.
Passengers are advised to remain vigilant about checking flight status information before traveling and to allow extra time for airport procedures, especially during periods when technical issues have been recently reported. The complete resolution of the Air India check-in glitch marks a return to normalcy, but serves as a reminder of the complex technological infrastructure supporting modern air travel.
