Chennai Airport Flight Disruptions Amid Bhogi Festival Haze

Flights at Chennai Airport experienced delays and cancellations due to Bhogi festival smoke, fog, and precautionary measures. Despite disruptions, passengers faced minimal inconvenience thanks to advance notifications. The phenomenon, a recurring annual issue, prompted the rescheduling of several flights as a safety measure against reduced visibility due to smoke and fog.

Chennai Airport experienced flight cancellations and delays on Wednesday, correlating with the Bhogi festival and the resultant smoke haze and fog. Eight flights were cancelled, and ten faced delays ranging from one to three hours. However, prior notifications from airlines led to minimal inconvenience for passengers.

Historically, Bhogi-related smoke has disrupted flight operations at Chennai Airport, with a peak disruption occurring in 2018, affecting 118 flights. This year, despite the potential for reduced visibility, flight operations were less affected than in previous years, thanks to precautionary rescheduling by the Airports Authority of India.

Precautions this year included rescheduling flights between 4:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m., affecting around 30 flights, with passengers informed in advance. In local residential areas, the traditional burning of old materials for Bhogi celebrations has been a significant factor in runway visibility issues due to smoke and fog.