Cyclone Arnab: Aviation Advisory and Flight Disruptions (28 October 2026)

The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has reviewed preparedness measures following forecasts from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) that Cyclonic Storm "Arnab" is expected to intensify into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm and make landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast on 28 October, bringing sustained winds of 125-135 kmph and gusts up to 150 kmph.

Airports Affected
- Visakhapatnam Airport: Operations suspended from the afternoon of 27 October.
- Vijayawada Airport: All flights suspended after 7:00 PM on 27 October.
- Rajahmundry Airport: All flights suspended after 7:00 PM on 27 October.
- Delhi-Bhogapuram-Delhi services cancelled on 28 October.

Airline Operational Updates
- Air India
- 6 flight cancellations affecting:
- Delhi-Visakhapatnam-Delhi (27 October)
- Delhi-Vijayawada-Delhi (28 October)

Air India Express
- 13 cancellations, primarily involving services between:
- Visakhapatnam and Hyderabad
- Visakhapatnam and Bengaluru
- Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada
- Varanasi-Bangkok
- Bangkok-Visakhapatnam

IndiGo
- Operations suspended at Visakhapatnam.
- Flights suspended at Vijayawada and Rajahmundry after 7:00 PM on 27 October.
- Cancellation numbers remain provisional.

Akasa Air
- Delhi-Bhogapuram and return services on 28 October cancelled.
- Other flights expected to operate normally.

Alliance Air
- Operations continuing normally with no reported cancellations.

Potential Wider Impact
- While coastal Andhra Pradesh airports are expected to face the greatest disruption, Hyderabad, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Gorakhpur, and Bhubaneswar could experience delays and schedule changes depending on the cyclone's movement and intensity.

Passenger Advisory
- Passengers are strongly advised to:
- Check flight status before leaving for the airport through:
- Airline websites
- Mobile apps
- Customer care helplines
- SMS alerts
- Avoid travelling to the airport unless flight status is confirmed.
- Allow additional travel time due to possible:
- Waterlogging
- Road closures
- Traffic disruptions in coastal Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.

Passenger Support
MoCA has instructed airlines and airport operators to provide special assistance to:
- Senior citizens
- Persons with reduced mobility
- Parents travelling with infants
- Passengers requiring medical assistance

For unresolved issues:
- Contact the airline first.
- Escalate complaints through the AirSewa portal or mobile application if necessary.

Safety remains the highest priority, and further operational updates are expected as weather conditions evolve.