Dense fog has severely impacted air travel in the national capital, with Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) issuing a fresh advisory to passengers on Tuesday. The airport authority warned that while operations are recovering, significant disruptions may continue for both arrivals and departures due to persistent low visibility conditions.
Airport Issues Advisory Amid Ongoing Disruptions
In a post on social media platform X, the airport directly urged travelers to check with their respective airlines for the most accurate and timely updates on their flight schedules. The airport's advisory stated that flight operations are steadily recovering, but disruptions may persist for certain departures and arrivals. To assist the affected passengers, airport personnel have been deployed across all terminals to provide necessary support and guidance during this challenging period.
Scale of the Disruption: Hundreds of Flights Affected
The fog-induced chaos is not new. On Monday, the situation was particularly severe, leading to massive operational hurdles. According to official figures from airport officials, a total of 228 flights were cancelled—comprising 131 departures and 97 arrivals. Additionally, five flights had to be diverted to nearby airports as they could not land in Delhi due to the dangerously low visibility.
Major airlines have been forced to adjust their schedules. Air India confirmed it had to cancel approximately 40 flights due to the poor weather. While IndiGo did not share specific numbers for cancellations or delays, the airline acknowledged the widespread impact. "Low visibility (below minima), due to dense fog, has severely impacted operations at Delhi and other airports across northern India," an IndiGo statement read. The airline added that some flights may face delays or proactive cancellations to prioritize passenger safety, a sentiment echoed by Air India.
Safety First as Airlines Await Clear Skies
Both airlines emphasized that passenger safety is the paramount concern behind all operational decisions. Air India stated that normal operations would resume as soon as weather conditions improve. The disruptions highlight the vulnerability of air travel to winter fog in North India, especially at a hub as critical as Delhi Airport. As the country's busiest airport, IGIA handles around 1,300 flight movements every day, making any large-scale disruption ripple across the national and international network.
Passengers booked on flights to or from Delhi in the coming days are strongly advised to stay in close contact with their airlines via official websites or customer care channels for real-time information before heading to the airport. The situation remains fluid and is entirely dependent on weather patterns over the northern plains.
