Fog leads to chaos at BIA

Bangalore: For all the hooplah over Bengaluru International Airport’s (BIA) so-called international standards, the ground realities there on Monday exposed its weaknesses when it was faced with pressures due to cancelled and delayed flights caused by inclement weather conditions over Bangalore and northern India.
Apathy at airport. File photoAs many as 28 flights, including two international flights (British Airways and Oman Air), were delayed because of the thick fog that enveloped the skies over Bangalore and its adjoining areas on Monday.
Consequently, hundreds of air travellers had a trying time when BIAL and the airline staff did the Houdini act as the pressure built up. Frustrated travellers whose flights were cancelled scrambled to find seats, not on flights, but at BIAL where there was a virtual musical chairs game in which very few seats matched with a burgeoning crowd of grounded passengers.
Responding to delays in its flight operations, national carrier Air India said: “As a result of fog situation in Delhi and Bangalore airports for the past two days, the schedule of flights of many airlines, including Air India, have been disrupted over the entire network. Flight IC-106 was delayed in Bangalore due to late arrival of the incoming flight IC-105 from Mumbai.
“The delay in Mumbai was due to shortage of cabin crew to operate the flight because of the disruptions in the last two days due to fog conditions in Delhi. Duty managers from both Air India and its joint venture partner Air India SATS were available at the counters giving continuous information to the passengers about the flight delay” said V Chandrasekar, Senior Manager (Corporate Communications) Air India, Bangalore.
05/01/10 Deccan Herald

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Categories: Airports Jan 2010