BENGALURU: Dense fog at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) early on Thursday led to significant disruption of flight operations, with a total of 48 flights delayed between 4.44 am and 8 am. The low-visibility conditions forced airlines to slow down arrivals and departures, causing delays across both domestic and international sectors.
Visibility drops, causes delays up to 69 minutes
According to airport sources, the delays ranged from minor to severe, with the maximum delay recorded at 69 minutes. Of the 48 affected flights, 33 exceeded the 15-minute delay threshold defined by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Passengers reported long waiting hours inside the terminal, while several early morning departures were held at bay due to the fog layer that had engulfed the airport surroundings.
Two flights diverted due to low visibility
During the low-visibility window, two flights were diverted:
- At 7.21 am, an Air India Express flight (IX 2923) flying from Mangaluru to Bengaluru was diverted to Chennai.
- At 7.47 am, an Air India flight (AI 2653) from Delhi to Bengaluru was diverted to Cochin.
Both flights landed safely at their respective alternative airports.
Operations normalised but minor delays may continue
Flight operations returned to normal after 8 am as visibility improved. However, airport authorities cautioned that minor cascading delays could continue for some time due to the backlog created during the early hours.
Dense fog during winter months is a recurring challenge at Bengaluru airport, often causing slower aircraft movement, diversion protocols, and temporary halts in operations.