NEW DELHI: Dense fog across Delhi and northern India on Friday morning disrupted flight operations at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), with 79 departures (including 2 international) and 73 arrivals (including 2 international) cancelled and over 200 flights delayed.The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for the national capital, cautioning that persistent fog could continue to disrupt flight operations at select airports. The weather agency also warned of possible delays and safety concerns on highways and railway routes due to reduced visibility.
Passengers have been advised to check with their airlines for the latest updates before heading to the airport. IGIA officials said operations are currently being conducted under CAT III conditions, a specialized Instrument Landing System (ILS) category that allows landings in very low visibility, sometimes close to zero. “Dense fog is impacting flight schedules. Our on-ground teams are coordinating with all stakeholders to assist passengers across terminals. We sincerely regret the inconvenience and urge flyers to check their flight status with respective airlines,” the airport said in a statement. Airline advisories IndiGo also issued a travel advisory, noting that early-morning fog is affecting flight operations in Delhi and parts of northern India. In a post on X, IndiGo wrote, “Early-morning fog in Delhi and across parts of northern India is reducing visibility and disrupting flight operations. We seek your understanding, as this is a seasonal occurrence, and flight movements are being managed accordingly to ensure safe and orderly operations. Customers travelling in the early hours may experience delays or revised timings. We recommend checking the latest flight status prior to leaving for the airport, goindigo.in/flight-status.“The airline is monitoring the weather, coordinating with authorities, and adjusting operations to help passengers.“Our teams are actively monitoring weather conditions and coordinating with air traffic authorities. Wherever possible, we are making operational adjustments to minimise inconvenience and ensure customer support remains available across all key touchpoints. We will keep you informed and get you on your way as soon as conditions permit,” post added on X. Passenger woes Thursday’s disruptions compounded the troubles for travelers, as over 500 flights were delayed and 27 cancelled. Visibility at the airport dropped to just 100 metres between 6:45 am and 7:30 am, improving slightly to 200 metres afterward. Passengers faced long waits inside terminals, rescheduling hassles, and anxiety over missed connections. Many complained about partial refunds, with some citing deductions for convenience fees or travel insurance despite flight cancellations. The worst disruption this week occurred on Monday, when over 800 flights were delayed, more than 200 were cancelled, and five diverted. While numbers improved midweek, the recurring fog continues to challenge smooth operations. Air quality adds to woesAdding to the disruption, Delhi woke up on Friday to ‘very poor’ air quality, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) pegged at 387 at 8 am, data from the Central Pollution Control Board showed.
