Dense fog enveloping Guwahati led to significant flight disruptions at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, causing delays for over ten flights on Monday and forcing the diversion of three inbound services the previous night. The adverse weather conditions created chaos for passengers and airlines alike.
Multiple Flights Grounded and Diverted
The disruption began on Sunday night when thick fog drastically reduced visibility, making it impossible for three Guwahati-bound flights to land. Two flights originating from Delhi—one operated by IndiGo and another by Air India Express—along with a third flight from Bengaluru, also operated by Air India Express, were all diverted to Kolkata. An airline official confirmed there was a sudden and severe drop in visibility at the airport.
The ripple effects continued into Monday, with over ten departing flights from Guwahati experiencing delays. Among these, at least four were services belonging to the budget carrier IndiGo, indicating a widespread impact on the airport's schedule.
Airlines Scramble for Recovery Operations
In response to the diversions, Air India Express swiftly organized recovery flights to bring stranded passengers back to Guwahati. Two special recovery flights were operated from Kolkata to Guwahati on Monday morning, helping to clear the backlog of travelers who had spent an unexpected night away from their destination.
Further compounding the travel woes, an international flight from Bangkok to Guwahati, scheduled to land on Sunday night, was also rescheduled due to the inclement weather. The flight eventually arrived in the city on Monday morning after the fog cleared.
Proactive Cancellations Amid Weather Woes
Anticipating that the poor weather conditions would persist, Air India Express took pre-emptive action by cancelling two of its other scheduled flights. The cancelled services were from Guwahati to Dibrugarh and from Guwahati to Imphal, both of which were supposed to operate on Monday. The airline stated that advance notifications were sent to affected passengers on Sunday itself, allowing them some time to adjust their plans.
This incident highlights the vulnerability of air travel in Northeast India to seasonal fog during the winter months, often leading to cascading delays and operational challenges for airlines trying to maintain their networks.
