Fog grounds two flights, delays 16

Tribune News Service

Mohali, January 6

Fog continued to disrupt flight operations at Chandigarh International Airport with two flights cancelled and sixteen flights delayed on Saturday.

Given the prevailing weather conditions, Jet Airways has revised the timings of one flight (9W 469) to Mumbai, which will depart at 1.25 pm instead of 12.25 pm on January 8.

Among the cancelled flights were Indigo’s flight to Delhi at 8am and Air India’s flight to Leh.

Airport officials said the visibility reduced to 50 metres and operations resumed only after 12.15 pm. The officials said passengers must expect heavy rush at the airport as it was accommodating flights beyond its capacity per hour in the foggy season.

In a tweet on its official handle @IXCairport, the authorities requested passengers to check flight status by calling call centre numbers before boarding a flight.

Of the sixteen flights delayed, three flights were delayed by more than three hours, leaving passengers stranded.

Flight operations to be disrupted further

Flight operations at the airport would be further disrupted following an announcement by the Delhi Airport authorities that the IGI Airport would remain closed for an hour and 45 minutes (from 10.30 am to 12.15 pm) between January 18 and January 26 on account of Republic Day airspace closure period. According to a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) issued on Thursday, the airlines have been asked to cancel certain flights. Over 8 to 9 flights between Chandigarh and Delhi would be affected and might have to be rescheduled or grounded.