The Airports Authority of India (AAI) on Wednesday outlined a series of measures taken to ensure smooth passenger movement at Goa International Airport, Dabolim, amid continued disruptions caused by IndiGo’s operational crisis.
The briefing was given at a Wednesday evening press conference addressed by Officiating Airport Director Laxmi G.S., along with CISF Deputy Commandant Rohan Pawar and Chief Security Officer Vipin Srivastava.
Speaking to reporters, Airport Director Laxmi G.S. said the airport, in coordination with all stakeholders, had activated multiple layers of facilitation to prevent congestion and ensure seamless operations.
“We have deployed additional manpower at all touch points, opened extra check-in counters, strengthened queue management and coordinated closely with CISF, Goa Police and Traffic Police for smooth city-side movement,” she said.
Laxmi added that an additional ticketing counter for IndiGo had been allotted to assist passengers arriving for rescheduling and refunds, while traffic police were stationed for lane management.
“CISF and Goa Police QRT teams are on ground for surveillance. Swing operations are enabled wherever possible, and Digi Buddies are facilitating passengers at entry gates,” she said.
Highlighting passenger-centric steps, the Airport Director said washrooms, baby-care rooms, seating areas, kids’ zones and housekeeping teams were being continuously monitored.
“We are ensuring timely trolley retrieval, availability of wheelchairs, drinking water, first-aid supplies, napkins, diapers, milk, refreshments and priority facilitation for senior citizens, pregnant women and PRM passengers,” she added.
To maintain transparency, AAI has also intensified information dissemination.
“All FIDS screens are functioning and updated. Real-time information is being shared through our social media handles, and we’re coordinating with airlines for timely delay and cancellation updates along with refreshments for affected passengers,” Laxmi said.
She also confirmed that a 24×7 control room had been set up with representatives from airlines, CISF and state police. Help desks manned by AAI and IndiGo staff are operating at the city-side, departure hall and arrival counters.
“Baggage delivery is prompt. Around 20–30 bags left over in arrivals are being cleared the same day. There is no congestion in the baggage areas,” she added.
Laxmi further noted that the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) had reviewed the situation.
“As per MoCA directives, the director from MoCA visited the airport on December 9 to assess the arrangements. He appreciated the efforts of AAI, IndiGo, all airlines, CISF and the police for their proactiveness in managing the crisis,” she said.
Airport authorities confirmed that operations remain normal, with an average of seven planned cancellations per day.
Since the cancellations are pre-notified, passengers are not arriving unnecessarily, preventing congestion. Those visiting the airport for ticket modifications are attended round-the-clock by airline staff and the Duty Terminal Manager.
CISF Dy Commandant Rohan Pawar and CSO Vipin Srivastava also assured that security arrangements and passenger facilitation will continue without compromise as airlines stabilise their schedules.
IndiGo disruptions ease as 7 flights
cancelled at Dabolim airport
VASCO:
Flight disruptions continued at Goa International Airport, Dabolim, on Wednesday as seven IndiGo flights were cancelled, affecting passengers flying to major metropolitan sectors.
The cancellations were reported on routes connecting Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad, leaving several travellers scrambling for alternate options amid the ongoing operational turbulence.
Airport sources said that while disruptions persisted, there was visible improvement compared to the last few days, when a higher number of cancellations and delays had caused widespread inconvenience.
“There is some stability returning to the schedule, but several sectors are still affected due to network-level issues,” a senior airport official said.
According to officials, the airline had to withdraw services on short notice, prompting long queues at airline counters as passengers sought rescheduling or refunds. Many travellers, particularly those with connecting international flights, were seen coordinating with airline staff for priority reallocations.
IndiGo has been facing a series of operational challenges over the past week, leading to significant route adjustments across the country. While the airline has not issued any fresh advisory, airport authorities confirmed that efforts are underway to streamline the schedule and reduce passenger inconvenience.
Meanwhile, departures and arrivals of other airlines at Dabolim remained largely unaffected. Passengers have been advised to check flight status before heading to the airport to avoid last-minute disruptions as IndiGo continues to stabilise its operations across its network.
