Cyclone Arnab: Flights Suspended at Three Andhra Airports, Airlines Cancel Services

New Delhi: The Ministry of Civil Aviation has reviewed aviation preparedness as Cyclonic Storm Arnab is forecast to intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm and cross the Andhra Pradesh coast on October 28, bringing winds of 125–135 kmph and gusts of up to 150 kmph.

Flight operations at Visakhapatnam were suspended from the afternoon of October 27, while services at Vijayawada and Rajahmundry were halted after 7 pm. The Delhi–Bhogapuram–Delhi service scheduled for October 28 was also cancelled.

Air India reported six cancellations, while Air India Express cancelled 13 services, mostly involving Visakhapatnam. IndiGo suspended flights at the affected airports, while Akasa Air cancelled its Delhi–Bhogapuram services. Alliance Air reported normal operations.

The ministry said flights to and from coastal Andhra Pradesh and southern Odisha, including Bhubaneswar, could face significant disruption, with knock-on delays possible in other cities.

Passengers have been advised to verify flight status with airlines before travelling and check applicable rebooking and refund options. The ministry said passenger safety remains its top priority.