Dense fog affects schedules of 200 flights at IGI airport

Air traffic was thrown out of gear today as blinding fog enveloped the city airport for the second consecutive day, affecting operations of 200 flights including 25 cancellations and diversion of 28 others.

"Around 25 flights were cancelled and 22 others were rescheduled," an airport official said. Another 28 flights (26
domestic and two international) were diverted to Ahmedabad,
Bangalore, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Lucknow and Mumbai due to fog.

Runway visibility dropped to a low of 125 metres between 9 pm last night and 8 am this morning due to the fog.

Several morning flights were delayed by up to four hours while a few operated using the CAT-III B instrument landing system. Most flights that departed or arrived in the poor visibility conditions were of Air India, the official said.

Closure of Delhi's airspace for an hour, between 11.15 am and 12.15 pm for Republic Day preparations added to the passengers' woes as no flights could take-off or land during the period despite a relatively clear weather and the runway visibility increasing to over 800 metres.

A DIAL spokesperson said Delhi airspace within a radius of 50 nautical miles would also remain close on January 23, 24and
26 from 11.15 am to 12.15 pm for R-Day rehearsals and parade.

Last night, fog descended over the airport at about 8 pm reducing general visibility to around 50 m and within half an hour it dropped to zero and runway visibility to 100 m.

Around 3.30 am, runway visibility was reduced to 25 m, bringing air operations to a halt.