The onset of winter brings with it fog that often causes disruptions in flight schedules at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA). Frequent fliers have already started opting for flights later in the day.
On Tuesday morning, poor visibility due to dense fog saw operations suspended between 6.32 a.m. and 6.48 a.m. A total of 39 departures were delayed. However, no flights were diverted.
This is the first major departure delay reported due to bad weather. Dense fog and subsequent air traffic congestion resulted in passengers being stranded for hours at the airport.
A passenger of a Mumbai-bound Jet Airways flight said, “Our flight was scheduled for departure at 7 a.m. Passengers boarded the flight by 6.50 a.m. Due to congestion on the runway, flights were lined for take-off. By the time, our flight took off, it was around 8.45 a.m."
An official of the Indian Meteorological Department (aviation services) at the airport said that dense fog is expected on Wednesday too. “On Tuesday, the lowest visibility recorded was 50 metres while it was around 100 metres the previous day. Dense fog started enveloping the area around 5.13 a.m. and continued till 8.13 a.m.”
A press release from the Bangalore International Airport. Limited (BIAL), operator of the KIA, said that visibility standby was declared between 2.30 a.m. and 8.31 a.m. at the airport. A standby is declared when general visibility goes below 2,500 metres.
