As low visibility and foggy weather persisted, Delhi Airport, one of India's busiest airports, saw substantial flight delays on Tuesday, news agency ANI reported. As a result, 30 departures were delayed, inconveniencing and frustrating customers. In addition, 17 flights were cancelled, worsening the issue.
Airport officials have asked travellers to check with their individual airlines for updates and to exercise caution during this period of inclement weather. Efforts are being made to reduce the impact on passengers, but the situation remains unclear as long as the fog persists.
Meanwhile, Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Monday that the Delhi airport has been asked to accelerate the operationalization of its CAT III-enabled fourth runway to the satisfaction of the civil aviation regulator DGCA for final certification.
The national capital's airport already has a CAT III runway. A CAT III landing is a precise approach that allows aeroplanes to safely land in low visibility situations.
Delhi Weather
The national capital's cold wave conditions persisted on Tuesday morning, with the minimum temperature falling below 4 degrees Celsius, the lowest of the winter season. In numerous spots, a heavy layer of fog was seen engulfing the city. Meanwhile, the IMD has issued an orange notice for a cold wave starting Tuesday, and the cold wave conditions are expected to last for the following 4-5 days, until January 20, 2024.
It should be mentioned that the city has been experiencing extreme cold weather for the last week, with the lowest temperature ranging around 3 to 4 degrees Celsius. On January 14, the city's minimum temperature was 3.5 degrees Celsius, and on Friday, it was 3.9 degrees Celsius.