Accordingly an official of the Kempegowda international airport (KIA) told in bengaluru said "Safe landing and smooth take-off of aircraft on time depend on visibility in the early morning on any given day. The city weather is unpredictable and sudden heavy fog reduces visibility of the runway for pilots to land or take-off". Furthermore as the vicinity around the airport at Devanahalli, about 40 km north of the city centre, was free from fog on early saturday, there were no delay in arrival or departure of about 60 flights between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. Apparently terminal duty manager recalled "Poor visibility, however, on friday due to early morning fog disrupted flight schedule of 67 aircraft, including 38 departures and 29 arrivals".
Furthermore as a result, five city-bound aircraft were diverted, including three to hyderabad and two to chennai for safety reasons, as thick fog in the wee hours engulfed the sprawling airport, including its two runways. Even though the airport operator bangalore international airport Ltd (BIAL) has built the second runway with CAT III instrument landing system, it has not been made operational due to delay in regulatory clearances.
Perhaps as the third busiest airport in the country after mumbai and New delhi, bengaluru is connected to about 60 domestic and overseas routes for ferrying passengers as well as freight.
