Delhi airport: 97 flights cancelled, over 200 services delayed due to fog

The recent incident at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, where 97 flights were cancelled and over 200 delayed due to dense fog, serves as a stark reminder of the persistent challenges faced by India's aviation sector, particularly during winter. This event, while seemingly routine, encapsulates a complex interplay of geography, technology, policy, and economic implications crucial for competitive exam aspirants to understand.

**Background Context: The Delhi Fog Phenomenon**

Delhi, situated in the Indo-Gangetic plains, experiences severe fog conditions every winter, typically from late December to early February. This phenomenon is exacerbated by several factors: geographical location, which traps moisture; low temperatures leading to condensation; and crucially, air pollution. Particulate matter in the air acts as condensation nuclei, thickening the fog and often turning it into 'smog' (smoke + fog). This reduces visibility drastically, making flight operations extremely hazardous. The IGI Airport, being a major hub, is particularly vulnerable to these seasonal disruptions.

**What Happened: A Cascade of Disruptions**

On the day of the incident, dense fog blanketed Delhi, bringing visibility down to critical levels. This forced airport authorities and airlines to implement low-visibility procedures. Despite the airport being equipped with advanced Instrument Landing System (ILS) capabilities, the sheer density of the fog, coupled with operational constraints, led to the cancellation of 97 flights. Additionally, over 200 services experienced delays, with an average departure delay of approximately 23 minutes. These disruptions ripple through the entire air traffic network, affecting connections, crew schedules, and passenger itineraries across the country and internationally.

**Key Stakeholders Involved**

Several entities play critical roles during such events. **Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL)**, a GMR Group-led consortium, operates the IGI Airport and is responsible for maintaining infrastructure, including runways and ILS. The **Airports Authority of India (AAI)** manages air traffic control (ATC) services and provides crucial guidance to pilots. **Airlines** (such as IndiGo, Vistara, Air India, SpiceJet, Akasa Air) are at the forefront, dealing with operational challenges, re-scheduling flights, and managing passenger grievances. The **Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)**, the regulatory body, sets safety standards and operational guidelines for flights during adverse weather and ensures passenger rights are upheld. The **India Meteorological Department (IMD)** provides vital weather forecasts, enabling pre-emptive measures. Finally, **passengers** are the most directly impacted, facing inconvenience, financial losses, and stress.

**Why This Matters for India: Economic and Social Impact**

Delhi's IGI Airport is India's busiest airport and a critical economic gateway. Disruptions here have significant economic ramifications. Airlines incur substantial losses due to cancellations and delays, impacting their profitability. Businesses relying on air cargo face supply chain disruptions. Tourism, a vital sector, takes a hit as international and domestic tourists face travel impediments. Socially, the inconvenience to thousands of passengers, including those with urgent travel plans, medical emergencies, or connecting flights, is immense. It underscores the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to natural phenomena and the need for robust contingency planning.

**Historical Context and Technological Solutions**

Weather-related disruptions have been a recurring feature of Indian winters. To combat this, IGI Airport was upgraded with a **CAT III-B Instrument Landing System (ILS)**, which allows aircraft to land with a runway visual range (RVR) as low as 50 meters. While this is a significant technological advancement from earlier CAT I or CAT II systems, disruptions still occur because not all aircraft are CAT III-B compliant, not all pilots are trained for such landings, and ground visibility for taxiing and take-off can still be a challenge. Furthermore, the sheer volume of traffic at IGI means even minor delays can cause a cascading effect.

**Future Implications and Policy Framework**

Looking ahead, the incident highlights the need for continuous investment in advanced aviation technology, improved weather forecasting, and enhanced operational protocols. India's **National Civil Aviation Policy, 2016**, aims to make air travel affordable and efficient, and such disruptions directly challenge these goals. The **Aircraft Act, 1934**, and subsequent **Aircraft Rules, 1937**, form the foundational legal framework for aviation in India, under which the DGCA issues **Civil Aviation Requirements (CARs)**. These CARs specifically detail passenger entitlements in cases of flight delays, cancellations, and denied boarding, covering aspects like refreshments, accommodation, and financial compensation. The **Consumer Protection Act, 2019**, also provides a broader legal recourse for passengers. Future strategies must focus on enhancing airport capacity, optimizing air traffic management during low visibility, and exploring diversion options to nearby airports with better weather. Addressing air pollution in Delhi could also indirectly mitigate the severity of fog, offering a long-term environmental solution with aviation benefits.

In essence, the Delhi airport fog incident is more than just a weather report; it's a case study in infrastructure resilience, economic impact, regulatory oversight, and passenger welfare, all critical themes for competitive exam preparation.