6 flights cancelled at Bhubaneswar airport due to dense fog

Bhubaneswar: As many as six flights were cancelled at Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) here on Sunday with dense fog rendering zero visibility at the arriving and departing destinations.

The cancelled flights included two Delhi-Bhubaneswar flights (one each of IndiGo and Air India), three Bhubaneswar-Delhi and one intra-state service, Bhubaneswar-Utkela, that operates under the UDAN scheme.


New Delhi-Bhubaneswar flights are being routinely cancelled due to fog, following a series of disruptions of IndiGo flights due to roster changes. BPIA officials said flight cancellations due to fog in Dec this year are more frequent compared to previous years. Earlier, most flight cancellations and delays due to fog were reported in Jan.

“Utkela being a small airport, even mild fog can cause visibility problems. This winter, especially in Dec, we are seeing more flights getting cancelled and delayed. Passenger safety is the first priority of any airline,” BPIA director Prasanna Pradhan said, adding that on-ground operations are smooth.

For flights bound for neighbouring airports, BPIA has also proved to be an ideal stop for diversions during inclement weather, such as heavy rain, wind or fog. “Visibility improved around 9 am at IGI Airport, Delhi, while in Bhubaneswar it was at 8 am. Early morning flights from the city can’t take off because there’s a lack of a clear view and landing is even far more difficult with just 100-150 metres of visibility,” an airport official said.

Last Jan, poor visibility due to dense fog forced two Bhubaneswar-bound flights to divert mid-air, just minutes before landing.

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