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Bengaluru: The Kempegowda International Airport witnessed widespread disruption on Thursday morning as a thick blanket of fog sharply reduced visibility, causing delays across dozens of flights. The first wave of disruptions began shortly after 5.30 AM, affecting at least 41 scheduled departures and arrivals and prompting airport authorities to initiate low-visibility procedures.
Meteorological data from the India Meteorological Department showed that skies were only partly cloudy on Wednesday, but conditions deteriorated significantly overnight. Dense fog formed around the airport precinct, leaving pilots, ground staff and air traffic controllers grappling with limited visibility from the early hours of the day.
The forecast for Thursday called for largely cloudy skies, with temperatures ranging from 18 degrees Celsius to 28 degrees Celsius.
By 10 AM, the airport’s weather monitoring systems recorded a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius and relative humidity at 73 per cent. Visibility had improved slightly to 1,500 metres, though this remained below ideal levels for uninterrupted flight operations. Winds were blowing at 14 knots from the east and northeast, accompanied by patches of low cloud at altitudes of 800 and 1,200 feet.
These fluctuating conditions made it difficult to maintain routine flight schedules, prompting airlines to delay departures and hold incoming aircraft in nearby airspace until conditions stabilised.
Airport authorities expressed cautious optimism that visibility would improve gradually through the late morning, allowing for a smoother flow of aircraft movements. However, Thursday’s disruption followed closely on the heels of another major operational setback earlier in the week.
On Tuesday, seven international flights scheduled between 1 AM and 6 PM were cancelled after volcanic ash from a major eruption in Ethiopia moved into parts of Indian airspace. In addition to these cancellations, 12 international flights were delayed and several airlines temporarily suspended take offs and landings until aviation regulators deemed conditions safe.
Further operational challenges are expected elsewhere in the region. Thiruvananthapuram International Airport has issued a public advisory confirming temporary restrictions on airspace use from November 27 to December 3 due to the Navy’s Operational Demonstration 2025. Airline networks in southern India may experience additional scheduling changes during this period.
