Fog hits flight schedules in B'lore

With poor visibility, which went down by 50 per cent, no flights could take off or land between 5:30 am and 8:40 am.

Airport sources said the first flight could take off only at 8:45 am on Thursday. “The fog was extremely heavy. It was so thick that passengers could not even properly see the coffee shops at the terminal building,” recalled an eyewitness.
With several passengers waiting for the fog to clear at the airport, the eateries and snack shops made brisk business.

There were hundreds of passengers inside the terminal, even as the display screens indicated that almost all the flights were delayed. The cascading effect was also felt on the schedules of the other flights for the rest of the day. A Central Industrial Security Force guard at the airport said the weather was quite normal till 5:30 am when suddenly the fog rolled in.

An Indigo flight scheduled to arrive at BIA at 7:50 am touched down only at 10:30 am. “I am supposed to fly out of the city on Friday morning. I am afraid I might be stranded if we have fog tomorrow also,” said another passenger.
Meteorological department director B Puttanna said fog is common during the post-monsoon season, like in December.

“If visibility is poor even at a distance less than 800 metres, then there must be fog formation. Bangalore is experiencing fog till around 9 am. This naturally delays aircraft takeoff and landing,” he said.
BIA recorded a minimum of 15.6 degree Celsius and a maximum of 26.6 degree Celsius on Wednesday.