As many as 30 flights departing from Delhi Airport have encountered delays, while an additional 17 have been canceled, attributing the disruptions to adverse weather conditions, according to airport sources reported to ANI on January 16. On Sunday, 10 flights were diverted, causing cancellations and delays, leading to extended waiting times for passengers. Social media platforms saw numerous expressions of concern from affected travelers.
On January 15, five flights faced diversions at Delhi Airport due to ongoing bad weather conditions. Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia held a crucial meeting with key government officials, directing them to enhance preparedness for unforeseen incidents. The meeting included representatives from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), BCAS, and the Airport Authority of India (AAI).
In response to these challenges, the DGCA issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for airlines to follow during flight delays and cancellations. The SOPs mandate airlines to publish real-time flight delay information on their websites, provide advance information to affected passengers via SMS, WhatsApp, and email, and display updated information at airports for waiting passengers. The emphasis is on sensitizing airline staff to effectively communicate with passengers about any disruptions.
Considering the prevailing fog season and adverse weather conditions, airlines are advised to proactively cancel flights expected to be delayed beyond three hours to prevent airport congestion and minimize passenger inconvenience. All airlines are instructed to adhere to these guidelines with immediate effect.
Low-visibility conditions have significantly disrupted flight operations at Delhi Airport. Minister Scindia assured that stakeholders are working tirelessly to minimize the impact of fog on operations and passenger inconvenience, emphasizing the unacceptable nature of unruly passenger behavior.
To address visibility challenges, Delhi Airport’s operator, DIAL, has been directed to expedite the operationalization of the CAT III-enabled fourth runway. CAT III compliance allows flight operations in low-visibility conditions. The airport currently has four runways, with three operational and the fourth undergoing maintenance work. Operationalizing the CAT III-enabled fourth runway is urgently requested to meet DGCA approvals.
Data from 5 am to 9 am indicates that the CAT-III Runway RWY 11R/29L managed 30 landings and 1 takeoff, while the non-CAT III Runway RWY 9/27 experienced no flight movement. RWY 11L/29R handled 2 takeoffs during the same period, according to the civil aviation ministry’s post on Monday.
In response to diversions during dense fog in late December, the DGCA issued show-cause notices to Air India and SpiceJet for not deploying pilots trained for low-visibility conditions. The regulatory body actively addresses the issue to ensure the safe operation of flights in adverse weather conditions.
