Delhi Airport asked to expedite CAT III-enabled runway due to prevailing fog conditions

Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Monday directed Delhi Airport to promptly operationalise its fourth CAT III-enabled runway, pending final approval from the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

Delhi, already equipped with a CAT III runway which facilitates safe landing in low visibility, has recently experienced severe fog, causing visibility to drop to zero between 5 am to 9 am on Sunday and Monday. The extreme weather conditions forced the airport authorities to suspend operations on CAT III runways temporarily, prioritising passenger safety.

Over the last two days, around 600 flights, both domestic and international, have been delayed due to adverse weather. The DGCA is set to issue a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for airlines to improve communication and passenger facilitation amidst flight cancellations and delays.

Minister Scindia, in a post on social media platform X, urged patience from travellers, condemning unruly behaviour and assuring swift action against such incidents. He also assured that stakeholders are working tirelessly to mitigate fog-related disruptions.

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