Chennai Flight Operations Disrupted by Bhogi Festival Smoke and Fog; 8 Flights Cancelled, 10 Delayed

CHENNAI, Jan 14: Flight operations at Chennai Airport were disrupted on Wednesday due to smoke from Bhogi festival celebrations and winter fog, leading to eight flight cancellations and ten delays ranging from one to three hours, officials said.

The smoke haze is linked to Bhogi festivities in Tamil Nadu, during which residents burn old household items in the early morning. Areas surrounding the airport, including Pammal, Anakaputhur, Meenambakkam, Gowl Bazaar, Pozhichalur, Manapakkam, Thoraipakkam, and Nandambakkam, were particularly affected, resulting in reduced visibility on the runways.

According to the airport authorities, passengers were informed in advance about potential disruptions via text messages to minimise inconvenience.

Flight Cancellations and Delays
Four departing flights were cancelled: Chennai-Pune (3:05 AM), Chennai-Coimbatore (6:35 AM), Chennai-Mumbai (7:15 AM), and Chennai-Delhi (8:00 AM). Four arriving flights were also cancelled: from Delhi (5:20 AM), Mumbai (6:35 AM), Pune (7:10 AM), and Coimbatore (9:10 AM).

Flights to Vijayawada (5:40 AM) and Thoothukudi (6:10 AM) experienced delays of three hours. In total, 18 flights were affected by the combination of festival smoke and winter fog.

A Recurring Issue
Disruptions due to Bhogi celebrations are a recurring issue at Chennai Airport. Historical data shows that in 2018, 118 flights were delayed or cancelled, while in 2024, 51 flights were affected. Last year, precautionary measures by the Airports Authority of India helped reduce disruptions, impacting 30 flights during the festival window between 4:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m.

This year, authorities noted that while the smoke and fog have caused delays, the situation is less severe than previous years, allowing flight operations to continue with minor interruptions.