118 flights cancelled at Delhi Airport amid fog

Dense fog in Delhi led to meaningful disruptions at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) on Tuesday, causing widespread flight cancellations adn delays. Travelers searching for updates on flight status and airport operations will find this overview essential, as it highlights the scale of the impact and the measures taken by authorities. With over a hundred flights affected, the situation underscores the challenges posed by winter weather conditions in the national capital. This article provides a detailed account of the operational hurdles,air quality concerns,and regulatory responses during this period.

Flight Disruptions at IGIA: Scope and Impact

On Tuesday, Indira Gandhi International Airport, managed by Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), experienced severe operational disturbances due to thick fog enveloping the city. A total of 118 flights were cancelled, including 60 arrivals and 58 departures, while 16 flights were rerouted to alternate airports. This disruption is significant given that IGIA typically manages around 1,300 flight movements daily, making the cancellations a substantial portion of its traffic.

flight tracking data from Flightradar24 revealed that 130 flights faced delays on Tuesday morning, with the average departure delay hovering around 28 minutes. These delays ripple through both domestic and international flight schedules, causing cascading effects across the aviation network.

Technical Constraints and Operational Challenges

According to a statement from DIAL on the social media platform X,flight operations continued despite the fog; however,aircraft and pilots not equipped with CAT III certification faced difficulties. CAT III compliance enables aircraft to operate safely in extremely low visibility conditions, a critical factor during dense fog episodes.Flights lacking this capability were more likely to be delayed or cancelled,exacerbating the disruption.

The recurring nature of fog-related interruptions during the winter months at IGIA highlights the need for enhanced infrastructure and technology to mitigate such challenges. Airports worldwide, including Heathrow and Changi, have invested in advanced landing systems to reduce weather-related delays, a model that IGIA could consider for future upgrades.

Regulatory Measures and Passenger Rights

In response to the ongoing disruptions,the Ministry of Civil Aviation has mandated airlines to adhere strictly to passenger facilitation guidelines. These include providing timely flight status updates, offering meals to passengers during extended delays, facilitating rebooking or refunds for cancelled flights, ensuring no denial of boarding after timely check-in, assisting with baggage handling, and addressing grievances promptly.

These regulations aim to protect passenger interests and maintain service standards even amid operational difficulties caused by adverse weather.

Environmental Conditions: Fog and Air quality in Delhi

The dense fog that disrupted flights was accompanied by a slight improvement in air quality, though the city remained in the ‘very poor’ category with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 388. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a ‘yellow’ alert for Delhi until 9 am, warning residents of low visibility conditions.

Visibility at key locations such as Safdarjung and Palam ranged between 100 to 300 meters during the morning hours. Meanwhile, data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) indicated that 16 monitoring stations recorded ‘severe’ pollution levels, with areas like Jahangirpuri and Anand Vihar registering AQI values as high as 451.

For context, the CPCB classifies AQI values from 0-50 as ‘good’, 51-100 ‘satisfactory’, 101-200 ‘moderate’, 201-300 ‘poor’, 301-400 ‘very poor’, and 401-500 ‘severe’. These figures highlight the persistent environmental challenges faced by the city during winter.

Critically important Facts: Key Points to Remember

• 118 flights were cancelled at IGIA on Tuesday due to dense fog.
• 60 arriving and 58 departing flights were affected, with 16 flights diverted.
• IGIA handles approximately 1,300 daily flight movements.
• Flightradar24 reported 130 flights delayed with an average departure delay of 28 minutes.
• CAT III compliance is essential for aircraft to operate in low visibility conditions caused by fog.
• Ministry of Civil Aviation mandates airlines to provide meals,rebooking,refunds,and grievance redressal during disruptions.
• IMD issued a yellow alert for fog in Delhi until 9 am.
• Visibility ranged from 100 to 300 meters at key locations like Safdarjung and Palam.
• AQI was recorded at 388 (‘very poor’), with some areas reaching 451 (‘severe’).
• CPCB monitors air quality across multiple stations,classifying pollution levels from ‘good’ to ‘severe’ based on AQI.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Why were so many flights cancelled at IGIA on Tuesday? A1: Dense fog significantly reduced visibility, leading to the cancellation of 118 flights to ensure safety, especially for aircraft not equipped with CAT III landing systems.

Q2: What is CAT III compliance and why is it critically important? A2: CAT III compliance refers to advanced landing capabilities that allow aircraft to operate safely in very low visibility conditions, such as dense fog, minimizing delays and cancellations.

Q3: how does the Ministry of Civil Aviation protect passengers during such disruptions? A3: The ministry enforces rules requiring airlines to provide timely updates, meals, rebooking or refunds, baggage assistance, and grievance handling to support affected passengers.

Q4: What was the air quality like in Delhi during the fog event? A4: The air quality was in the ‘very poor’ category with an AQI of 388, showing slight improvement from the previous day but still posing health risks.

Q5: How does fog affect airport operations beyond flight cancellations? A5: Fog reduces visibility, complicating aircraft landings and takeoffs, causing delays, diversions, and increased workload for air traffic control and ground services.