Dense fog disrupts flights at Bengaluru Airport, causing delays and diversions

On Sunday morning, dense fog at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru caused significant disruptions to flight operations, leading to delays and diversions. Between 5:08 a.m. and 7:25 a.m., as visibility dropped to a range of 50 to 100 meters, 15 flights faced delays, and six inbound flights were diverted, according to Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL).

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Among the flights diverted were Akasa Air from Mumbai, SpiceJet from New Delhi, and Air India flights from Mumbai and Abu Dhabi, which were redirected to Chennai. Additionally, an IndiGo flight from Hyderabad and a cargo flight from Delhi were diverted to Hyderabad.

The dense fog, classified by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) as severely limiting visibility, posed a challenge despite KIA’s existing infrastructure. While the airport’s south runway supports CAT-IIIB operations, enabling aircraft to land in low-visibility conditions, the north runway is currently only compliant with CAT I standards. Efforts are underway to upgrade the north runway, which remains in progress.

The disruptions highlighted the challenges posed by inclement weather despite advancements in navigation technology. The diversions and delays underscore the need for continued improvements to handle severe weather conditions, ensuring minimal disruptions for travelers. In December 2020, KIA had upgraded its south runway capabilities, making it one of the few in the country capable of handling such conditions effectively.