A blanket of dense fog conditions gripped Delhi-NCR on Wednesday, disrupting air travel and leaving scores of passengers stranded in the national capital.
As per the latest data, over 50 flights have been delayed at the city’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) as thick fog reduced visibility to nearly zero in several areas, posing challenges for both travelers and airline operators.
The delays have been reported from international flights from Riyadh, Bangkok, and Phuket among others. Some domestic flights are also running late due to dense fog and adverse weather conditions, Delhi Airport’s Flight Information Display Board (FIDB) showed.
3 flights diverted due to low visibility
The Delhi airport saw diversions of at least three flights on Wednesday morning owing to thick fog and low visibility, according to an official.
According to Airport officials, a total of five flights were diverted to various destinations between 9.30 pm on Tuesday and 7 am on Wednesday.
Out of these, three were diverted to Jaipur in Rajasthan and one each to Ahmedabad in Gujarat and Mumbai in Maharashtra, the officials mentioned.
Stringent measures in place
The dense fog enveloping Delhi has severely impacted flight operations at IGI airport, leading to widespread delays and cancellations. The reduced visibility has compelled airport authorities to implement stringent safety measures, including reduced runway capacity and increased intervals between take-offs and landings.
Given the same, Delhi Airport on Wednesday issued a passenger advisory that read, “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.”