A number of flights were disrupted at Chennai airport on Sunday morning as fog engulfed runways, reducing visibility.
According to Indian media reports, domestic flights from Mumbai, Hyderabad and Pune, and international flights from Dubai and Kuala Lumpur were diverted to Bengaluru, Coimbatore and Trichy.
Flight tracking site Flightradar shows that the Emirates flight EK544 from Dubai was diverted from Chennai to Bengaluru. It later made the 35-minute journey between the two Indian cities, eventually taking passengers to their destination, albeit with a delay.
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Several arrivals and departures were delayed due to low visibility, according to Chennai airport.
“Visibility was around 1500 metres at 5.30am IST, which reduced to 350 metres by 6.30am IST and further dropped to 150 metres around 7.30am IST due to fog,” the airport said on X.
The flight operations eventually normalised around 11.30am.
The India Meteorological Department earlier issued a fog warning for the region, attributing conditions to a combination of high humidity and low temperatures the previous night.
Short Description:
Dense fog caused major flight disruptions at Chennai airport, leading to diversions and delays for domestic and international flights, highlighting climate impact on travel.
Read Time:
2 minutes, 15 seconds
Main Article:
A significant weather event at Chennai International Airport (MAA) on Sunday morning caused widespread flight disruptions, serving as a stark reminder of how climate volatility can directly impact global logistics and business travel. Dense fog, a result of high humidity and low overnight temperatures as noted by the India Meteorological Department, severely reduced runway visibility from 1500 meters to just 150 meters within a few hours. This led to the diversion of multiple flights from key hubs like Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Dubai to alternative airports including Bengaluru and Coimbatore. For U.S. finance professionals monitoring supply chain risks and operational efficiency in emerging markets, such incidents underscore the tangible economic costs of flight delays, from missed meetings to disrupted cargo schedules.
The ripple effects of these aviation delays extend beyond immediate passenger inconvenience. Emirates flight EK544’s diversion from Dubai to Bengaluru and its subsequent 35-minute repositioning flight to Chennai illustrate the complex logistical and fuel-cost repercussions for airlines. For investors and analysts, persistent fog-related disruptions at major Indian airports during winter months present a recurring operational risk factor for airline stocks and logistics companies with exposure to the region. The incident, while resolved by late morning, perfectly encapsulates the intersection of environmental factors and economic resilience, where infrastructure and forecasting capabilities are tested.
This event reinforces the critical importance of robust risk management strategies for corporations with international footprints. In the finance sector, understanding the frequency and impact of such flight disruptions is essential for accurate forecasting, insurance underwriting, and evaluating the stability of travel-dependent industries. As climate patterns evolve, the ability to mitigate and price in these disruptions will become an increasingly valuable component of sound financial planning and investment due diligence in a globally connected economy.
Short Summary:
Severe fog at Chennai International Airport triggered significant flight diversions and delays, disrupting both domestic and international travel. This incident highlights the direct impact of climate-related events on global supply chains, airline operations, and business logistics. For the finance industry, it underscores the importance of factoring aviation delays and fog-related disruptions into risk assessment and economic forecasting models to safeguard against unforeseen operational costs.
