Severe weather conditions have created havoc on the flight operations at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on Monday. A combination of poor visibility and high pollution levels has resulted in the diversion of 15 flights and more than 100 flights are delayed. As per the official statement, flights are disrupted between 8:30 am to 3:30 pm, underlining the challenges faced because of adverse weather.
Details about the diverted flights
Out of a total 15 diverted flights, 13 were redirected to Jaipur, Lucknow, and Dehradun received one flight each. The reason behind the disruption is that some of the pilots lack CAT III training which is an essential skill for operating aircraft in low-visibility situations. A CAT III-trained pilots are capable of safely landing and taking off despite challenging conditions of low visibility. Thus, this training is considered to be very crucial in severe weather.
As per official confirmation, more than 100 flights have been delayed because of poor visibility. The low-visibility procedures have been implemented by the Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL). Despite the disturbances, DIAL has given assurance to the passengers that ”all the flight operations are at present normal”.
Airlines issue travel advisories
Major airlines including Air India, SpiceJet, and Indigo have informed their passengers regarding the delay of flights on their social media platform X. Air India in its advisory has informed their passengers about the slow-moving traffic movement on the airport route and has asked them for early departures. Due to poor visibility in Delhi, some parts of Northern India are impacting the flight operations, it added. Likewise, Indigo has warned travellers via a post that flights may get delayed because of poor visibility. SpiceJet has also alerted its passengers regarding widespread delays in its morning schedule.
DIAL, which manages about 1,400 daily flight movements, has appealed to the flyers to stay updated about the flight schedules by directly contacting their airlines. As Delhi is witnessing a high pollution level and fog, travellers are being advised to remain cautious and be prepared for continued disruptions.
(With inputs from PTI)