Flight operations at Chennai International Airport faced significant disruptions on Friday, as persistent dense fog in Delhi and other parts of Northern India continued to wreak havoc on the national air travel network. The adverse weather conditions led to multiple delays and the cancellation of seven flights, stranding and inconveniencing numerous passengers.
List of Affected Flights
The impact was felt on both outbound and inbound services. Four outbound flights from Chennai were cancelled. These included two Air India services to Delhi, scheduled for 9:50 AM and 11:00 AM departures. IndiGo's Chennai-Delhi flight slated for a 10:45 AM take-off was also grounded. Additionally, IndiGo's evening service from Chennai to Varanasi, which was to depart at 5:20 PM, did not operate.
On the inbound side, three arrivals from Delhi to Chennai were withdrawn. The affected flights were those scheduled to land in Chennai at 8:55 AM, 9:50 AM, and 10:20 AM.
Prolonged Operational Chaos
Airport officials confirmed that the fog-induced operational constraints at the Delhi hub have now persisted for more than a week. This sustained disruption at one of the country's busiest airports has created a cascading effect, impacting flight schedules across India, with Chennai being a major affected southern metro.
Advisory for Travellers
In light of the unpredictable situation, authorities at Chennai Airport have issued a strong advisory to all passengers. Travellers, especially those with bookings to or from North Indian destinations, are urged to check directly with their airlines for real-time flight status updates before heading to the airport. This precaution is recommended until meteorological conditions in the northern region stabilise and normal flight operations resume.
The recurring winter fog continues to be a major challenge for aviation authorities, highlighting the vulnerability of interconnected flight schedules to severe weather in key transit points.
