Surat, India - Passengers at Surat Airport are facing inconvenience due to five flights being scheduled within a three-hour window in the afternoon, leading to long check-in lines and crowded conditions. Despite having two available slots in the morning, the flights are not operating, and passengers are left to endure the scorching heat while waiting in queues that extend outside the terminal building.
Currently, an early morning flight from Surat to Delhi departs at 8:00 am and returns at 8:30 am, while a flight from Hyderabad arrives at 12:55 pm and departs at 1:30 pm. Between 1 pm and 4 pm, five flights are scheduled to arrive and depart, accommodating approximately 1,200 passengers daily. Many passengers are forced to arrive early for check-in and baggage checks, exacerbating the congestion.
Airport sources revealed that two airlines have been allotted slots between 9 am and 12 noon but are not operating due to aircraft issues. This problem is reportedly occurring on a daily basis.
However, the situation may improve within the next two months. Twelve flights have been allotted slots between 1 pm and 9:30 pm, with most slots in the evening, and additional slots are expected to become available in the morning. Airline sources have indicated that more flights are likely to be introduced in the coming months, and airlines that have been allotted slots are expected to begin operations soon.
