Imagine waking up early for your flight, only to find it delayed indefinitely due to something as seemingly harmless as fog. That’s the reality for many travelers at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru, where dense fog has once again thrown flight schedules into chaos. Since 5:30 am on Thursday, over 40 flights have been delayed, leaving passengers in limbo. But here’s where it gets even more frustrating: details about which flights are affected remain unclear, as major airlines have yet to share updates on their social media platforms. And this is the part most people miss—how long these delays will last is anyone’s guess.
The culprit behind this disruption? Radiation fog, a phenomenon that occurs when the ground cools rapidly overnight, causing moisture in the air to condense near the surface. This type of fog is a winter staple in Bengaluru, typically observed between November and February, when temperatures drop. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) categorizes fog based on visibility: shallow fog (up to 500m), moderate fog (200m), and dense fog (less than 50m). On Thursday, visibility at KIA plummeted to between 50m and 100m, fitting squarely into the dense fog category.
This isn’t the first time KIA has faced such issues. Just last November, 21 flights were delayed, with six diverted—four to Chennai, two to Hyderabad. At the time, BIAL officials noted that visibility was at its worst between 5:08 am and 7:25 am, disrupting both domestic and international flights, including a cargo flight. But here’s the controversial part: Does KIA truly have the infrastructure to handle low-visibility operations? While the airport boasts upgraded CAT III-B runways designed for such conditions, flight schedules still face significant disruptions until visibility improves after 9 am. This raises a critical question: Is the airport’s infrastructure sufficient, or are there gaps that need addressing?
For travelers, the takeaway is clear: If you’re flying out of Bengaluru between 3 am and 9 am during winter months, expect delays. Airlines and airport authorities may need to rethink their strategies to minimize passenger inconvenience. But what do you think? Is KIA doing enough to manage low-visibility conditions, or is more needed? Share your thoughts in the comments—let’s spark a conversation!
