Dense fog takes toll on operations at Mohali's SBSI Airport

Gaurav Kanthwal

Mohali, January 17

Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport here has seen almost double the number of flight cancellations (113) this year so far in comparison to the past two years.

In 2022 (December), 63 flights were cancelled, while in 2023, 57 flights had to be cancelled for various reasons. This year so far, 113 flights had to be cancelled compared to 18 in January last year.

Fog is more severe this year and stays for a longer duration during daytime. The number of foggy days, too, has increased compared to the past two years. Last year, only CAT-1 Instrument Landing System was being used, while this year, CAT-2 is operational, still there are delays and cancellations, said airport officials.

The number of delayed flights, too, has been exceptionally high this year in comparison to 2022 and 2023. As many as 370 flights were delayed in January alone this year. In 2022, the entire year witnessed 411 delayed flights. In 2023, only 67 flights got delayed throughout the year. As many as 370 flights got delayed in January this year compared to 67 during the month in 2023.

The data for diverted flights is also on the upward trajectory. In 2022, seven flights to Chandigarh got diverted due to various reasons. In 2023, nine flights got diverted, while in 2024, 10 flights had to be diverted.

“Low visibility, fog and adverse weather conditions account for a maximum of flight cancellations and delays at the SBSI Airport, Chandigarh,” said an airport official.

The officials also attributed a spike in flight cancellations and delays to increasing air traffic. Earlier, there were 55-60 flights per day and now, the number has gone up to 70 flights daily.

4 flights cancelled

Four flights were cancelled and 24 others delayed at Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport in Chandigarh on Wednesday, an official said. Early morning departures to Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru, and an arrival from Pune were cancelled for various reasons, including fog and low visibility. A Chennai-bound flight departed around four hours behind its schedule at 11:18 am, while a flight from Chennai arrived more than four hours late at 6:23pm, the official said.