28 Flights to/from Mumbai Delayed Due to Foggy Conditions
Foggy conditions have severely impacted air travel, causing significant disruptions to at least 28 flights to and from Mumbai. The weather-related delays have affected multiple flight sectors, including Kolkata–Mumbai, Leh, and Guwahati, leaving passengers stranded for hours and leading to frustration among travellers.
On Thursday, visibility issues at airports in Kolkata, Leh, and Guwahati led to delays, with Kolkata Airport experiencing the most severe disruptions. Passengers on flights between Kolkata and Mumbai faced delays of up to two hours. In total, eight flights were delayed on the Kolkata–Mumbai and Mumbai–Kolkata sectors alone. Four flights each on the Mumbai–Guwahati and Guwahati–Mumbai routes were similarly affected, while the Mumbai–Leh and Leh–Mumbai sectors also experienced delays. According to Air Traffic Control (ATC) sources, “The average delay for departures at Kolkata Airport was approximately two hours due to foggy conditions, with similar delays reported at Guwahati and Leh airports.” The fog created visibility issues, preventing timely departures and arrivals. Passengers expressed their dissatisfaction, with many frustrated over the prolonged delays.
A passenger stranded at Kolkata Airport, shared his experience “What was the tearing hurry to pack people into a plane when it was so foggy at Kolkata airport and you didn’t have permission to fly? We were stuck inside the aircraft for almost 2.5 hours. Horrible management.” Another frequent traveller commented on the growing frequency of such disruptions: “This has become the new normal. Multiple flights delayed due to fog in winter or heavy rains in the rainy season is incredibly frustrating for us. I travel regularly for work, but these delays make it impossible to stick to a schedule. If you have a meeting, you need to plan for at least a four-hour buffer after the estimated landing time, as weather disruptions can completely derail your plans.” These ongoing disruptions highlight the challenges posed by winter fog on the aviation sector, affecting flight schedules and frustrating passengers. Authorities continue to manage the situation, but the recurring delays raise concerns about how such disruptions can be better mitigated in the future.
