Delhi and large parts of northern India are bracing for continued travel chaos as a thick blanket of fog is predicted to shroud the region on Tuesday, December 31. The severe weather condition, coinciding with New Year's Eve, is expected to drastically reduce visibility, leading to significant disruptions in flight schedules. Major airlines have proactively issued travel advisories, urging passengers to verify their flight status before heading to airports.
Airlines Activate Fog Contingency Plans
India's largest carrier, IndiGo, took to social media platform X to alert passengers about the ongoing situation. The airline stated that dense fog across the northern belt is causing continued reductions in visibility and disruptions to its operations. They have advised travelers to monitor their flight status through a dedicated link and offered options for rebooking or refunds if flights are impacted. The airline also suggested allowing extra time for road travel due to expected traffic snarls.
Air India, owned by the Tata Group, has also outlined its proactive measures. Anticipating the dense fog and low visibility in Delhi and Northern India, the airline expects impacts on schedules and potential cascading delays across its network. To minimize passenger inconvenience, Air India has pre-emptively cancelled some morning flights most likely to be affected. The airline aims to provide advance information to avoid prolonged waits at airports and has assured that its teams will assist passengers in case of unexpected delays or cancellations.
Weather Forecast and Official Fog Season
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast moderate to dense fog during the morning hours of Tuesday. The maximum temperature in the national capital is likely to be around 23 degrees Celsius, while the minimum may dip to about 8 degrees Celsius. New Year's Day might see generally cloudy skies with a possibility of light rain.
Importantly, the aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has officially designated the period from December 10 to February 10, 2026, as the fog season. This formal classification serves as a caution that fog-related travel disruptions are likely to remain a frequent occurrence during this extended window every year.
Widespread Fog Alert Across States
The weather agency has not limited its warning to Delhi. A fog alert has been issued for several other regions until the morning of December 31. The affected areas include:
- Haryana
- Chandigarh
- Odisha
- Punjab
- Uttar Pradesh
Many other parts of the country are also expected to experience similar foggy conditions, indicating widespread travel implications during the busy year-end period.
Passengers flying out of or into Delhi and other northern cities are strongly advised to stay in touch with their respective airlines for real-time updates, plan for longer commute times to airports, and explore flexible booking options provided by the carriers to navigate the challenging weather.
