Delhi airport’s key runway to remain closed until Feb 2

However, due to pollution concerns, the Delhi government implemented the GRAP-IV norms which disrupted the raw material supply chain for civil works, The Indian Express had reported earlier this month. There was also a delay in supply of runway lights due to supply chain complexities. Additionally, National Highways Authority of India’s (NHAI) cranes operating on the Dwarka Expressway on the Gurgaon side of Runway 3 (29R11L) presented a risk to low-flying aircrafts, especially in low-visibility conditions, said sources.

This caused further delays because even as take-offs could still take place in low-visibility conditions, it was near impossible to land due to the danger the cranes presented, the sources added.

According to DIAL sources, the cranes were removed a few days after the airport authority sent a letter to the NHAI reprimanding its actions that “compelled Delhi airport to downgrade runway 3 from CAT III compliant to CAT I compliant”.

The Delhi airport has four runways. Dense fog impacts visibility, flight ops

On Tuesday morning, dense fog descended upon Delhi’s Palam and Safdarjung stations, severely impacting visibility and disrupting flight operations. At 5.30 am, visibility plummeted to a mere 50 meters, causing significant delays and cancellations. Two flights were diverted to Jaipur between 2.30 am and 5.30 am, airport authorities said.

The dense fog resulted in the delay of 82 flights and cancellation of five at arrivals, noted Flightradar24. Departures were also significantly affected, with 222 flights delayed and nine cancellations reported.

Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) posted on X saying, “While landings and take-offs continue at Delhi Airport, flights that are not CAT III compliant may get affected.

However, complaints against delays and cancellations have significantly dropped after January 14 and 15, when the airport reported 1,762 delayed flights and 288 cancelled flights across two days, officials said.

According to DIAL sources, this could be because the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) levied fines on Air India and SpiceJet airlines for not rostering trained pilots during heavy fog hours.

It then issued a directive to airlines that all CAT III trained pilots must be rostered during fog conditions, especially during early morning hours when the fog is at its heaviest.