Security checks, fog delay 20 flights at IGI

“Flights are already being delayed by poor visibility conditions. Security checks are going to remain elaborate. Frisking and manual checking of baggage has been intensified, which may also lead to some delays,” a CISF officer said.

“Three international flights, Lufthansa’s LH 760 from Frankfurt, Aeroflot’s SU 533 and Air France’s AF 148 from Paris, were delayed on Monday night due to low visibility,” an airport official said.

More flight delays and cancellations are expected this year due to heightened security checks and dense fog conditions.

More fog ahead
The airport Met department has predicted dense fog from December 10 to January 31, which in turn is expected to affect flight schedules. “On Monday, the visibility was 1,500 metres till 5 pm and dropped to 1,000 metres after 6 pm due to a shallow fog,” a met department official said.

On Monday, flights were also delayed due to late arrivals from the country’s eastern region, including Bihar and West Bengal, which too reported low visibility conditions. Air India flight IC 408 from Patna, which was scheduled to arrive at 3:05 pm at Delhi airport, reached at 5.45 pm.

“On Monday night, humidity levels ranged between 70 and 75 per cent. Dense fog has not set in as yet due to the low humidity levels. Tonight, shallow fog is expected between 1.30 and 8 am,” an official said.

“Dense fog will affect the airport only after it rains. Till then, we can expect shallow fog,” R K Jenamani, director of the airport Met department said.

Third runway
And to add to this, the third runway at the Delhi airport is yet to receive certification for the CAT III-enabled Instrument Landing System (ILS), which helps flights land in low visibility conditions.

Low-cost airlines not having CAT III trained pilots is also expected to play spoilsport this fog season.