Dense fog once again brought travel chaos to the national capital on Wednesday, 31 December 2025, severely hampering flight operations at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA). Visibility dropped to just a few metres in the early morning hours, forcing authorities to implement stringent operational protocols and leading to significant disruptions for passengers.
Airport Operations Under Severe Constraints
In an official update issued at 6 am, Delhi airport authorities confirmed that all flight operations were being conducted under CAT III protocols, a system designed for extremely low visibility conditions. Despite these measures, the airport warned passengers to anticipate delays and possible cancellations. The authorities took to social media platform X to communicate that their ground teams were actively assisting travellers to manage the difficult situation.
Passengers were strongly urged to check the latest status of their flights with their respective airlines before leaving for the airport. This advisory came as a critical step to prevent large crowds and prolonged, uncertain waits at the terminals.
Airlines Scramble, Issue Passenger Advisories
Major Indian carriers proactively communicated with flyers, warning of schedule changes due to the persistent fog cover across North India.
Budget carrier IndiGo, which had faced mass disruptions earlier in December, stated that operations would be slower than usual. The airline emphasized that safety and compliance with visibility regulations were its top priority. IndiGo offered affected passengers the options to conveniently rebook their journeys or claim a refund, asking for patience until weather conditions improved and operations stabilized.
Air India issued a detailed advisory, highlighting the risk of "potential cascading delays" across its network. In a proactive move, the airline announced the planned cancellation of some morning flights most likely to be impacted. This decision was taken to provide passengers with advance information and avoid unnecessary inconvenience at the airports. Air India assured that its airport teams would remain available to assist passengers in case of any unexpected delays, diversions, or cancellations.
Similarly, SpiceJet also reported disruptions to its flights from Delhi and advised passengers to verify their flight status.
Travel Plans in Disarray Amid Recurring Fog
The recurring dense fog during the winter months continues to be a major operational challenge for aviation in northern India. Wednesday's events underscore the vulnerability of flight schedules to such weather phenomena. While airlines and airport authorities have protocols in place, the situation inevitably leads to passenger distress and logistical hurdles. The collective advice from all stakeholders remains clear: travellers must stay informed by checking official flight statuses directly with their airlines before commencing their journey to the airport to mitigate the impact of these weather-induced disruptions.
