Poor Weather Disrupts Travel During The Festive Season In India

It's that time of the year again when people make plans to travel out to spend time with loved ones, reflect on the year that has passed, and celebrate the arrival of a new one. Christmas and New Year celebration plans in India have been in full swing for the past week or so. However, the carefully thought out festive plans have been affected by bad weather and fog in many cities. This has led to several flights being cancelled or diverted, as well as significant crowding and extended wait times at major airports.

Major Airports Affected

Passengers leaving from Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Hyderabad had substantial delays due to dense fog and bad weather. During one of the busiest holiday travel season, many aircrafts had to be diverted or cancelled at these airports. The severe weather and reduced visibility also impacted flights to Shimla, Chandigarh, and other North-East locations.

According to reports, 45 flights were delayed on December 25 at Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA). The impact of the disruptions was felt most acutely on key routes such as Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Bangalore.

Delhi Airport Reports Low Visibility

The city of Delhi has witnessed dense fog for some days, including on December 26 when visibility was approaching zero, forcing numerous flights to be cancelled. The Delhi Airport Authority issued advisories to travellers about flight delays and cancellations saying, “While landing and take-offs continue at Delhi airport, flights that are n,ot CAT III compliant may get affected. Passengers are requested to contact the airline concerned for updated flight information. Any inconvenience caused is deeply regretted.” CAT III is an anti-fog landing system initiated during poor visibility. The system aids in precision approach and landing when runway visibility is inadequate.

In August 2023, in anticipation of the festive season, the civil aviation ministry had unveiled a comprehensive strategy to enhance airport facilities and streamline operations to prevent potential congestion and ensure a seamless travel experience for passengers. As a result of the new measures, authorities had claimed that passengers can expect to encounter a more efficient and streamlined process, from check-in to security screening and boarding. All that seems to have come to naught, once again.

Traveller Reports On Social Media

Many people took to social media, talking about their travel plans getting disrupted and the chaos they were witnessing.

Bottlenecks Everywhere

Airport congestion and flight delays aren't the only things playing spoilsport during this holiday season. The former Twitter platform has been flooded with photos and videos of extreme congestion in and around popular holiday spots such as Manali, Kodagu, and more.