Edelweiss MF CEO Radhika Gupta on Delhi Airport Chaos: ‘Wait Time at Security Was 256 Minutes’

Edelweiss MF CEO Radhika Gupta shared that long queues and excessive wait times have plagued the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in New Delhi as authorities implement enhanced security measures ahead of Independence Day, August 15. She revealed that airline staffer informed her that the average wait time at the security check is 256 minutes, which means over four hours wait time. This comes after a journalist reported “snaking queues” at Delhi’s T3 terminal, adding that it took her an hour to make it through the security check at the airport for a domestic flight.

“I saw this myself. A harrowed (don’t blame him) airline staff told me the average wait time at security was 256 minutes,” wrote Gupta on X.

Read| ‘Flights from Delhi’s T3 a Nightmare’: Journalist After Battling Long Security Queues

She stressed “256 minutes”, adding that she was fortunate enough to board the flight as Vistara airline staff helped her. “Was fortunate to make the flight because of the kindness of Vistara staff but do hope it is addressed,” she further added.

Gupta’s comments came in response to a video shared by a journalist from inside the airport with the caption, “This is the situation at the security check counter at Delhi IGI airport T3 terminal right now. People on the verge of missing their flights.”

Take a look at the post shared by Radhika Gupta here:

In response to Radhika Gupta’s post, an individual wrote, “256 minutes! Gosh! With 15th August security and T1 closed .. a real nightmare.”

“I have seen old people collapsing standing in the lines. It was never so bad before, but it’s getting worse by the day. I hope the authorities find a way to address this,” expressed another.

A third added, “And on top of this, Digiyatra wasn’t operational. Quite a crowd yesterday evening at T3. Even the international business class security and immigration were jam packed – unheard of.”

Earlier, an Air India flyer from Bengaluru criticised the airline for last-minute India-US flight change. The woman said that she booked her flight from Delhi to San Francisco on August 18, but the company pushed it back to August 22. When a few passengers objected to this, the airline provided an alternative route via Mumbai on August 17. But for those flyers who are already in Bengaluru, this route meant a 10-hour layover in Delhi. Following the public outcry, the airline issued an apology to the affected passenger.