Severe fog conditions in the national capital plunged air travel into chaos on Sunday, leading to massive disruptions at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. The dense blanket of fog resulted in the cancellation of nearly 100 flights and delayed over 200 others, causing immense inconvenience to thousands of passengers.
Widespread Flight Disruptions and Passenger Anguish
According to data from the flight tracking website Flightradar24, a staggering 97 flights were cancelled at Delhi Airport on January 14. The impact was even more widespread in terms of delays, with over 200 flight services running behind schedule. The disruptions were not confined to Delhi alone; the cascading effect of the fog led to significant delays and cancellations at other major airports across the country, including Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad.
Passengers faced a nightmare scenario, with many stranded at the airport for hours without clear information. Social media was flooded with videos and posts showing long queues, frustrated travellers, and people sleeping on terminal floors. The situation highlighted the recurring challenges that Indian airports face during the winter fog season, despite existing infrastructure like the CAT III Instrument Landing System.
Operational Challenges and Airline Responses
The primary cause of the disruption was the very dense fog that reduced visibility to near-zero levels during the early morning hours. This made it impossible for flights to take off or land safely for a prolonged period. Airlines were forced to implement widespread cancellations and delays to ensure passenger safety.
Major carriers, including IndiGo, Air India, Vistara, and SpiceJet, issued travel advisories, urging passengers to check their flight status before heading to the airport. The airlines cited "bad weather at Delhi" and "low visibility conditions" as the reasons for the disruptions. The crisis tested the disaster management protocols of both the airport operators and the airlines, with many passengers complaining about a lack of timely communication and support.
The chaos was compounded by the fact that Sunday is typically a high-traffic travel day. The delays had a domino effect, disrupting flight schedules nationwide and leaving aircraft and crew out of position for subsequent operations.
Broader Impact and Calls for Better Preparedness
The fog-induced crisis at Delhi Airport has once again sparked a debate about the preparedness of India's aviation infrastructure for seasonal weather events. While Delhi's IGI Airport is equipped with advanced landing systems that allow some operations in low visibility, the sheer volume of traffic means that even a few hours of disruption can lead to massive backlogs.
The incident also raises questions about passenger rights and compensation. Under DGCA regulations, airlines are required to provide meals, refreshments, and hotel accommodation (if an overnight delay is anticipated) for passengers affected by cancellations within their control. However, in cases of weather-related disruptions, the onus on airlines is less clear, often leaving passengers to fend for themselves.
As North India continues to experience cold wave conditions, more foggy days are likely in the coming weeks. Aviation experts and passenger associations are calling for more robust contingency planning, better real-time information dissemination, and stricter enforcement of customer service norms during such crises to minimize passenger hardship in the future.
