Delhi and surrounding regions witnessed another disruptive winter morning on Monday as thick fog severely reduced visibility, throwing air traffic out of gear at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. Visibility levels dipped to below 50 metres in several pockets, forcing airlines to delay, divert, and cancel multiple flights.
Airport operations shifted to Category-III mode, a system that permits aircraft to land in extremely low visibility conditions. Despite this, flight movement remained slow, with officials indicating that a large number of departures were running behind schedule during the early hours.
Major domestic carriers including Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet issued fresh advisories urging passengers to remain alert and check flight status before travelling to the airport. Airlines cited safety concerns and fluctuating weather conditions as the primary reasons behind the disruptions.
IndiGo, in a public advisory, said that persistent fog over Delhi and nearby airports such as Hindon had impacted flight schedules. The airline stated that its ground teams were closely monitoring the situation and prioritising passenger safety. Travellers were advised to use online tools for rescheduling or refunds in case of delays or cancellations.
Air India also cautioned passengers about possible disruptions due to dense fog across northern India. The airline highlighted that it had activated precautionary measures, including its “FogCare” facility, which alerts affected passengers in advance and allows free rescheduling or full refunds for eligible flights.
The ripple effect of Delhi’s foggy conditions was felt in other cities as well. Several flights operating between Patna and Delhi were reportedly cancelled, leaving passengers stranded amid the ongoing cold wave.
According to early estimates, nearly 65 per cent of departures from IGI Airport faced delays on Monday morning. In one notable instance, an Air India Express flight from Goa was diverted to Ahmedabad after being unable to land in Delhi or Jaipur due to near-zero visibility.
Apart from travel disruptions, Delhi’s air quality worsened significantly. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed the city’s Air Quality Index touching 402 around 8 am, placing it firmly in the ‘severe’ category.
