Delhi Fog Disrupts Air Travel: Over 50 Flights Delayed at IGI Airport
New Delhi, [31/01/2024]
Over 50 Flights Delayed at IGI Airport
The capital city of India, Delhi, woke up to a thick blanket of fog on Wednesday morning, causing significant disruptions in air travel. Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) reported over 50 flight delays due to the reduced visibility caused by the dense fog.
To address the challenging conditions, Delhi airport issued an advisory for passengers, particularly cautioning about flights that are not CAT III (Category III) compliant. CAT III compliant aircraft are equipped with advanced instrumentation systems that enable them to operate in low visibility conditions. The advisory urged affected passengers to contact the respective airlines for the most up-to-date flight information.
“While landing and takeoffs continue at Delhi Airport, flights that are not CAT III compliant may get affected. Passengers are requested to contact the airline concerned for updated flight information. Any inconvenience caused is deeply regretted,” stated a post by the airport authorities.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had predicted dense to very dense fog conditions over isolated pockets of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi on Wednesday, with similar conditions expected on Friday and dense fog in isolated pockets on Saturday.
In addition to impacting air travel, the dense fog has also led to delays in several train services to and from the national capital.
IMD’s observation, shared on Wednesday morning, highlighted the extensive fog cover over Delhi, south Punjab, and Haryana, visible as a white patch overlapped by medium/high clouds in red patches.
This episode of dense fog comes on the heels of Delhi experiencing its coldest January in 21 years, with the mean maximum temperature at Safdarjung recorded at 17.9 degrees Celsius. This matches the conditions observed in 2015 and represents the lowest since 2003.
As the city copes with the fog-induced travel disruptions, passengers are advised to stay updated with the latest information from airlines and authorities to minimize inconvenience during their travel. The dense fog conditions are expected to persist, emphasizing the need for travelers to plan accordingly.
