Amritsar: Flight services at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport in Amritsar were thrown into disarray on Thursday night as thick fog engulfed the region, sharply reducing visibility and forcing airlines to alter their schedules.
Airport officials said the weather conditions worsened after 9 pm, preventing several outbound flights from departing on time. International services to destinations such as Kuala Lumpur and Doha were among the worst affected, with one Malaysia-bound flight being cancelled altogether. A number of other international and domestic flights were held back on the tarmac or rescheduled for later hours.
While departures remained largely stalled, some arriving aircraft were able to land using the airport’s advanced CAT-III B Instrument Landing System, which allows pilots to navigate safely during near-zero visibility. Aviation experts noted, however, that the system is designed to assist landings only, offering no relief for aircraft waiting to take off.
Live flight tracking data reflected widespread disruption, with multiple services showing extended delays, cancellations or revised timings through the night and into the early morning.
Advising caution, Sameep Singh of the FlyAmritsar Initiative urged travellers to verify their flight details before heading to the airport. He recommended checking airline websites or flight-tracking applications to avoid inconvenience.
Airport authorities said operations are expected to return to normal once weather conditions improve and visibility increases, though foggy conditions may continue to pose challenges in the coming days.
