A thick blanket of smog enveloped Delhi on Thursday, severely impacting flight operations at Indira Gandhi International Airport. The dense layer of pollution reduced visibility, leading to significant delays in both incoming and outgoing flights. According to flight tracker Flightradar24, over 300 flights were affected by the smog, with 115 arriving flights and 226 departing flights delayed.
The situation has created a ripple effect across the airport, with delays worsening throughout the day. The average delay for arriving flights is currently 17 minutes, while departures are facing a much longer delay of around 54 minutes on average. These delays have left hundreds of passengers stranded at the airport, while others experienced lengthy waiting times as they made their way through security and check-in processes.This disruption follows a pattern of worsening air quality in Delhi, especially during the winter months when smog and pollution levels tend to rise significantly. The reduced visibility poses a safety concern for flight crews, leading to the necessary delays to ensure safe takeoffs and landings.The aviation authorities and airlines have advised passengers to check the status of their flights in advance and allow for extra time at the airport due to the ongoing delays. Airport staff are working to manage the situation, but the heavy smog remains a significant challenge for air travel in the region.The air quality in Delhi has remained a major issue, with the city’s air pollution levels often reaching hazardous levels. The thick smog is a mixture of vehicle emissions, industrial pollution, and crop-burning practices in surrounding areas. This situation highlights the ongoing need for improved measures to combat pollution and safeguard public health, especially as the city braces for further delays and disruptions in the coming days due to the continuing smog.Passengers traveling through Delhi Airport are advised to stay updated on the latest flight statuses and prepare for potential delays as the smog continues to affect air travel in the national capital.
