Airports can beat fog with right equipment

Like a traditional rite of passage, New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport goes through an annual routine. Come December and January, and flights are delayed and/or cancelled because of fog, brought about by Delhi’s cold. This year has been no different. Two days of shivering cold and already over 100 flights have been delayed, diverted, or just cancelled, causing havoc to thousands of passengers.

Moreover, since Delhi airport handles more flights than any other airport, particularly domestic airlines, disruptions at this airport has a cascading effect on flights across India, disrupting passengers’ travel plans. Delhi airport recently acquired a grand new terminal, comparable with the best in the world. But fancy passenger lounges are of little use unless the airports can allow aircraft to operate in not-so-conducive conditions.

No one will deny that no chances should be taken with regard to safety norms but certainly inclement weather conditions should not necessarily lead to delays and cancellations. But every time fog descends on Delhi, the airport shuts down and it is not because the fog is severe but because the airport simply lacks the necessary wherewithal to operate in low-visibility conditions.

There are equipment and technology available that allow aircraft to operate even in severe fog conditions. The government and airport authorities must invest in such technology to keep flights on schedule. Instead, what happens is that Indian government reduces visibility guidelines to allow aircraft movement, which is a risky thing to do.

Incidentally, Delhi airport’s disruption comes at a time when airports in London and across northern Europe are being forced to cancel flights after receiving record snowfall over the last few days. Yet, even though these latest cancellations are the result of one of severest winters and heaviest snowfalls to have blanketed northern Europe, an angry UK government is planning a law that will penalise airports for flight cancellations or delays. The British government’s dissatisfaction stems from the fact that airports, especially Heathrow in London, did not invest in appropriate technology that would have allowed at least a few, if not all, aircraft to land or take-off, and thus mitigated the problem to some extent. This is what needs to be done at Delhi airport too.