It is an annual ritual for travel to and from North India. The dense fog envelopes the plains across North India, and this year was no different. As if on cue, there was a dense fog situation on December 27, 2023, in Delhi. The days before had seen light fog, but it would not hamper life. On December 27, it would.

Delhi Airport unprepared for fog this year

Delhi Airport, which has four runways and is supposed to be the busiest in India, was caught unprepared for the fog. The airport’s four runways are:

• 11R/29L, which is 4,430 m (14,619 ft) long and 60 m (200 ft) wide and CAT III-B equipped
• 11L/29R, which is 4,400 m (14,400 ft) long and 45 m (148 ft) wide (newly opened)
• 10/28, which is 3,810 m (12,573 ft) long and 46 m (151 ft) wide and CAT III-B equipped
• 09/27,  which is 2,813 m (9,282 ft) long and 45 m (148 ft) wide

Runway 10/28, the central runway for the airport, was shut after runway 11L/29R was made operational for extensive recarpeting work and was due to be reopened by December 15, 2023. However, its reopening was postponed to December 28, 2023, and now to January 5, 2024. No explanation has been offered by the airport operator about the delay. Consequently, the chatter amongst pilots is that Delhi is a one-runway operation.

Consequently, traffic flow into Delhi is a mess right now. Delhi Airport has only one CAT-III-enabled runway, where aircraft can land during low visibility. And with thick fog predicted over the next few days, there is nothing that anyone can do except to cancel their plans or take the delays.

Another dense foggy morning across the northern plains…this time covering east UP as well.

Similar weather conditions may continue until the weekend.
Travel delays are possible. #fog #DelhiFog #winter pic.twitter.com/2pe8BOEiI1

— Vagaries of the Weather (@VagariesWeather) December 28, 2023

Also, airlines have been unable to roster enough crew trained for low-visibility operations, leading to diversions when they arrive in Delhi during fog. Between these two factors, if a plane is scheduled to operate into Delhi, it will become a part of the delay across the network. With loads running at 90% or upwards, tens of thousands of passengers will see delays or cancellations daily.

Bottomline

Delhi Airport, with a single CAT IIIB-enabled runway right now, is seeing a large number of delays and diversions at the airport. The airport is not going to get the second, and its workhorse runway 10/28 back into operation before January 5, 2024, as per present updates. This would mean that there could be chaotic travel through Delhi in the coming days. Watch your flights and check status before you leave home.

What has been your experience flying out of Delhi Airport in the past few days?

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