He added, “The causes of delays are varied, including recreational, operational, and Air Traffic Control (ATC) delays, among other causes. The latest report, the January 2024 report, clearly shows that four major airlines out of the seven operating domestic flights at CSMIA are below the 50 per cent mark, which is very concerning.”

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Captain Mohan Ranganathan, an aviation expert, said, “It’s not just airlines and airports that are interested in punctuality. Regulators routinely use OTP as a performance measure. In the United States, the regulator requires airlines to provide data about delays so that the public has clear information about the nature and source of airline delays and cancellations. In China, airports have been ‘punished’ for poor on-time performance by having constraints on new air services imposed until punctuality improves, while in Europe and India, governments have instituted compensation mechanisms for delays so that passengers have some redress.”

He added, “While arriving late at a destination is an inconvenience, when it comes to connecting passengers, being late is more than just a nuisance. Missed connections, and bags which miss connections, cause genuine frustration and stress for passengers and airline costs. At large airports, the proportion of passengers passing through is high. It is very concerning that many major airlines are below the 50 per cent mark of the OTP. There was a time when airlines used to claim 90 to 100 per cent OTP, but now, the performance has deteriorated significantly. If this is the case in clear weather months, what will happen during the monsoon season when flights are bound to get delayed due to weather conditions? The passengers are the ones who have to face major inconvenience due to the delayed flight departures and arrivals.”

While explaining the cascading effect caused by one delay, Captain Ranganathan said, "An aircraft is assigned for eight to ten legs (flights) for a day. if there is a delay in either departure or arrivals at any of the legs the flight is flying, it causes a cascading effect, delaying the flight for the consecutive next legs." “The DGCA regularly monitors the OTP of airlines to ensure passenger convenience and overall operational efficiency. Airlines often take various measures to improve their OTP, including better scheduling, improved ground operations, and enhanced fleet management,” said another senior official from the DGCA.

67.6%
Akasa Air emerges with this OTP