Over 300 flights delayed as fog reduces visibility to 100m at IGI | Delhi News

New Delhi: Dense fog affected flights at Delhi airport on Wednesday as visibility dropped to 100 meters for nearly three hours.
According to FlightRadar24, over 300 flights were delayed. Officials at Indira Gandhi International Airport said no flights were diverted or canceled.
According to the India Meteorological Department, IGI airport recorded the lowest visibility of 100 meters from 5.30 a.m. to 8.30 a.m., which improved thereafter and dropped to 300 meters at 9.30 a.m.
Following the drop in visibility, Delhi Airport warned at 5.45am about the delays on X. “While landings and take-offs continue at Delhi Airport, flights that are not CAT III compliant may be affected. Passengers are requested to contact the relevant airline for current flight information. We deeply regret any inconvenience caused,” it said.
IMD has forecast moderate to dense fog on Thursday.
FlightRadar24 data showed that more than 300 flights were delayed at IGI Airport and the average delay was 18 minutes. “However, no flight was diverted or canceled due to poor visibility. Some flights were also delayed due to weather conditions at the departure airport,” an airport official said.
Officials said the airport is initiating low visibility procedures (LVP) – measures aimed at making it easier for flights to land when visibility drops below 800 meters.
During such a period, CAT-I procedures are initiated, which are basic precautionary measures for visibility above 550 meters. Pilots who are CAT II compliant are allowed to land in visibility between 275 and 550 meters.
However, CAT-III A and B compliant pilots can land in visibility below 275 meters and even as low as 50 meters. “The pilots trained in CAT III procedures can land an aircraft at a visibility of at least 50 meters while an aircraft can take off at a visibility of 125 meters,” an official had said earlier.
This season, dense fog occurred early, with the first fog recorded from November 13th.