During the winters, Delhi is engulfed with a thick layer of fog every year. This is mostly because of the fall in temperature and the presence of moisture. Further, it had resulted in almost zero visibility and flights were diverted. Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) has implemented a series of measures to guarantee enhanced passenger experience and secure operations in difficult low visibility conditions, coinciding with the start of the fog season.
Delhi Airport Gears Up For Fog
DIAL reported that, since the same time last year, it has increased staffing levels, installed more X-ray machines and flight information display systems, added 1,800 seats across the three terminals at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), and made plans to provide food boxes or coupons in the event of prolonged flight delays. It also said that additional help desks have been put up and that 740 more seats could be added, contingent on flight delays and diversions.
In order to make it easier for visitors to fill out paperwork before they approach immigration offices, helpdesks have been erected at the international arrival hall at Terminal 3. More baggage belts for arrivals have also been added to T3, and more bus gates have been made at T2. By cutting down on passengers’ wait times when disembarking, the new gates have improved the overall passenger experience, according to a DIAL spokesperson.
In the T3 forecourt area, DIAL reported that temporary helpdesks had also been set up, staffed in part by personnel from the terminal operations section (TOPS). Updates on the status of the flight, as well as any potential delays or diversions, will be shared on all of the display panels.
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Setting Up Radio Transmission Sets, Public Address Systems & More!
To improve coordination and communication, radio transmission sets, public address systems and high visibility jackets have been given to TOPS staff members. They will ease passenger movement and offer up-to-date information when strategically placed. According to DIAL, meal boxes or coupons have already been distributed to passengers during protracted delays in coordination with food and beverage establishments at all three airports.
Because of the thick or extremely thick fog that blankets northern India throughout the winter, IGIA frequently has flight delays and diversions. No flight is permitted to take off until the runway visibility range is 125 metres or greater, although aircraft can still land at the airport in conditions as low as 50 metres.
Foggy Conditions At The Airport:
According to experts with the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi had the first day of severe fog of the winter season on Saturday, with visibility decreasing to as low as 50 metres in the morning. At least 20 flights that were supposed to land at Indira Gandhi International Airport were diverted as a result of the reduction in visibility, and numerous more flights were delayed because of the fog, according to airport officials.
According to airport officials, between 6:30 and 9:30 on Saturday, at least 20 flights were diverted from IGI airport to other cities: four to Amritsar, thirteen to Jaipur, and one each to Lucknow, Ahmedabad, and Chandigarh.
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They also mentioned that the fog caused several delays for aircraft in the morning and evening.
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva & Wikimedia
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First Published: December 14, 2023 11:36 AM