Flight operations at Chennai Airport were significantly impacted today due to a combination of dense smoke from Bhogi festival celebrations and early-morning fog, forcing several schedule changes and cancellations.
Airport authorities reported that nine flights have been cancelled and two others rescheduled as visibility on the runway dropped sharply, making take-offs and landings unsafe. All affected flights so far have been operated by IndiGo, though other airlines are expected to review their schedules for the early morning and forenoon hours. Passengers have been advised to check with their respective airlines before heading to the airport.
The smoke resulted from residents burning waste ā including plastics and tyres ā in areas surrounding the airport such as Meenambakkam, Guindy, Pozhichalur, Pammal, Anakaputhur, Thoraipakkam, Manapakkam and Nandambakkam in the traditional Bhogi ritual. When combined with seasonal fog, the conditions sharply reduced visibility on the runway.
Among the cancelled departures were flights from Chennai to Mumbai, Pune, Coimbatore and Delhi, while arrivals from those cities were also called off. The ChennaiāVijayawada service was rescheduled to a later time, and the ChennaiāThoothukudi flight deferred by several hours.