NEW DELHI, India, Jan 15: Dense fog wreaked havoc on flight operations at New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport, leading to widespread disruptions and cascading effects across the country's airline networks. Social media buzzed with passenger complaints of long delays and cancellations, with some stranded in aircraft for hours. In a concerning incident, an IndiGo pilot faced a physical attack.

On Sunday, IGI witnessed 508 outbound flight delays and 87 cancellations, while inbound flights suffered 414 delays and 42 cancellations, per Flightradar24 data. Complications arose from crew duty time limits being exceeded due to delays and congestion-related issues like a lack of parking stands.

Apart from fog, the operational challenges were exacerbated by one runway equipped for low-visibility aircraft movements being under maintenance. The only operational CAT IIIB-compliant runway faced downgrades, restricting landings to one side, and creating additional hurdles.

CAT IIIB-compliant runways require not just infrastructure but aircraft and trained pilots for low-visibility operations. The Mumbai airport also faced disruptions despite being fog-free, with 362 delayed departures and 30 cancellations on Sunday, particularly affecting the bustling Delhi-Mumbai route.

Airlines with expansive networks and high aircraft and crew utilization faced significant hurdles in mitigating the impact. The congestion buildup at Delhi airport resulted in long queues, leaving passengers stuck in aircraft for extended periods. Deplaning after boarding is a complex process, involving security clearances and potential re-checks.

Incoming flights experienced delays in finding parking bays, with an Air India aircraft taking nearly two-and-a-half hours to secure one. Such delays, coupled with earlier weather-related issues, pose crew fatigue risks and impact compliance with Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has heightened FDTL enforcement due to safety concerns.

The situation at Delhi's IGI airport has raised questions about operational resilience and the need for comprehensive solutions to tackle weather-related disruptions and ensure passenger safety and convenience.