The cold desert of Leh has been facing some unprecedented weather conditions that have affected air travel in the region! Since Saturday, flight operations of several airlines in Leh have been suspended and around 12 flights have been cancelled as temperatures soared to 36° C in the area. But how is hot weather causing air travel chaos in Leh? Read on to find out!
What Is Causing Air Travel Chaos In Leh?
Several flights at Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport in Leh, India’s highest commercial airport, have been grounded since Saturday. It has been reported that a dozen flights travelling to and from Leh, Ladakh have been cancelled over the last three days. This is because the cold desert has become too hot.
According to a report in The Times of India, several IndiGo and SpiceJet flights have been cancelled since Saturday. This is because the temperatures in the region have soared to 36° C. This has rendered the high-altitude air to thin out and is posing risks to safe aircraft operations.
For better understanding, thinner air in the atmosphere implies that aircraft engines need to work harder to generate thrust and lift due to the limited air molecules available for intake and combustion.
While talking to The Times of India, a Leh Airport official said that this is the first time that flights have been cancelled at the airport due to high temperatures. This incident has again sparked a debate on how climate change is affecting our day-to-day lives.
12 Flights Cancelled In 3 Days Due To Hot Weather In Leh
On a normal day, the Leh Airport sees 15-16 aircraft arrivals and departures. Due to high temperatures in the region, two flights were cancelled on Saturday, four on Sunday, and around six on Monday, as per The Times of India report. These flights were from IndiGo and SpiceJet and were scheduled to travel around noon. However, as day-time temperatures soared to 36° C, the airport authorities decided that the high-altitude air was too thin for safe aircraft operations.
#6ETravelAdvisory: High ground temperatures and runway restrictions in #Leh have necessitated the cancellation of all flights for today. If you wish to re-book or claim a refund, visit https://t.co/6643rYeCxF We regret the inconvenience caused and appreciate your understanding.
— IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) July 29, 2024
The airlines took to their X (formerly Twitter) to announce the flight cancellations. They offered rebooking and refund options to their passengers due to this inconvenience.
It is surprising to see that Leh, a place where winter temperatures drop to -20° C, is experiencing such high temperatures! Climate change is proving yet again how it can impact our lives.
Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia
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