There is good news for Saudis who are frequent travelers to New Delhi as well as for the 2.8 million Indian expats in Saudi Arabia, the largest foreign community in the Kingdom. Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport will soon become a zero-diversionary airport.

This will be a major relief for travelers as Delhi airport gets paralyzed in winters, particularly during December to February, due to heavy fog.

The new mechanism is expected to be put in place by October, much before fog plays havoc with landing and take-off operations at the airport.

India’s Civil Aviation Ministry announced on Saturday that after a new mechanism is put in place, the chances of diversions of flights at Delhi airport will come down drastically.

Delhi airport has witnessed a total of 289 diversions during the last three winter seasons. There were 57 diversions in 2011, 89 in 2012 and 143 last year.

The director general of Civil Aviation had set up a committee in January to look into the problem. The committee has just come up with its report. It has suggested 27 recommendations to make Delhi a zero diversionary airport without compromising safety of aircraft operations.

The committee has also come up with a comprehensive document on low visibility operations defining duties and responsibilities of all stakeholders and specific issues pertaining to international operations and modalities to deal with stranded passengers during low visibility conditions.

Ashok Lavasa, the ministry’s secretary, has held a meeting with all stakeholders to ensure that various actions on the recommendations must be completed before October.

The committee has also given recommendations for setting up of a procedure for dealing with stranded passengers if the flight is delayed or diverted at Delhi and other alternate airports.

Prabhat Kumar, director general Civil Aviation, has written to heads of the various stakeholders to draw a definite timeline for the immediate implementation of the recommendations.