If you have already started dreaming about that idyllic year-end break, here’s some reality check. The meteorological department has predicted dense fog from December 20 onwards — likely to affect flight operations at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport.
The airport is
likely to have 120 hours of dense fog and flight operations might be affected for 35 days. But airport operator Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) has made several arrangements.
A decision-making (CDM) committee with representatives from DIAL, airlines and the air traffic controller will decide how to clear the backlog of flights.
“The CDM cell will be activated only during dense fog,” SB Sharma, joint general manager (air traffic management), Airports Authority of India, said.
DIAL has also set up additional food and beverage counters for passengers.
Four of them have been opened in the boarding area, where passengers sit after the security check.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has also asked airlines to provide food coupons to passengers affected by flight delays.
Director of IGIA's Met department RK Jenamani is confident that with these arrangements in place, "fewer flights" would be diverted to other cities this year as compared to previous years.