Airline firms issue travel advisory amid rain, thunderstorm forecast
New Delhi, March 19
Airlines on Thursday issued travel advisories for passengers flying to and from Delhi and other cities, warning of possible disruptions due to adverse weather conditions.
IndiGo said departures and arrivals in Delhi and Bengaluru may be "slightly impacted" due to expected thundershowers, while Air India flagged persistent rain and gusty winds in the national capital and parts of north India.
Both airlines said flight schedules could face minor delays despite efforts by operational teams to minimise disruptions.
Passengers have been advised to check their flight status on airline websites or mobile apps before heading to the airport.
Air India also urged travellers to allow extra time for their journey, citing the possibility of slower road traffic due to the weather.
Meanwhile, Delhi residents woke up to a cloudy morning on Thursday, with parts of the city receiving up to 12.5 mm of rainfall.
The minimum temperature was recorded at 17.6 degrees Celsius.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the national capital is likely to witness a generally cloudy sky with more rain during the day.
It forecast "one or two spells of very light to light rain accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds of 30-40 kmph, gusting up to 50 kmph, in the afternoon or evening".
The weather agency has also issued a broader warning, forecasting scattered thunderstorms, lightning, gusty winds and heavy rainfall or hailstorms across the Western Himalayan region and parts of northwest, central and east India over the next few days.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Flying to Delhi tomorrow for a business meeting. Thanks for the heads up. Already checked my IndiGo flight status and will leave home much earlier. Better safe than stuck in traffic!
The rain is such a relief from the heat though! ☔ Our farmers in the surrounding areas will be happy. A little inconvenience for travellers is worth it for the groundwater recharge and cooler temperatures.
Respectfully, while the advisory is fine, the communication from airlines is often too vague. "Slightly impacted" and "minor delays" can mean anything from 30 minutes to 4 hours. They should give more specific expected delay windows based on IMD data.
My parents are flying in from Bengaluru tonight. Just forwarded this article to them. They always underestimate Delhi traffic in the rain. The advice to allow extra time is crucial, especially for elderly passengers.
Good to see the IMD forecasts are getting more detailed and accurate. Gusts up to 50 kmph is significant for aircraft operations. Safety first, even if it means a delay. The Western Himalayan region warning also sounds serious.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.