Flight operations at the high-altitude Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport in Leh came to a standstill on Monday as heavy snowfall swept through the region. Major Indian airlines, including IndiGo and SpiceJet, were forced to temporarily suspend all takeoffs and landings, causing significant disruption for travelers.
Airlines Issue Advisories Amid Weather Chaos
IndiGo, in an official passenger advisory, confirmed that both departures and arrivals had been put on hold due to the severe weather conditions in Leh. The airline warned passengers to expect extended wait times, both for those on the ground and for passengers already onboard aircraft.
The airline stated its ground teams were proactively completing boarding formalities in advance to ensure flights could depart immediately once clearance was received from authorities. While acknowledging the inconvenience, IndiGo assured customers of its commitment to making the wait as comfortable as possible and urged them to check the latest flight status via its website or app before heading to the airport.
Budget carrier SpiceJet also issued a similar alert on social media platform X. The airline advised that all arrivals and departures for Leh, along with their connecting flights, could be impacted by the bad weather and asked passengers to monitor their flight status regularly.
Delhi Fog Compounds Nationwide Travel Troubles
Adding to the aviation sector's woes, several flights were delayed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi on Monday morning. The delays were attributed to dense fog and low visibility conditions, affecting multiple airlines operating to and from the national capital.
This dual disruption—snow in the mountains and fog in the plains—created a cascading effect on air travel networks across North India, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded or facing long delays.
IMD Predicts Extended Cold Wave Spell
The flight disruptions coincide with a severe cold wave gripping North India. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted continued snowfall and cold wave conditions across several states.
According to the IMD bulletin, isolated light to moderate rainfall or snowfall is very likely over Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit, Baltistan and Muzaffarabad on January 5 and 6, 2026. Similar weather is forecast for Himachal Pradesh on the same dates and for Uttarakhand on January 6. The department also warned of ground frost at isolated places in Uttarakhand.
The cold wave is expected to intensify and spread. The IMD has predicted cold wave conditions in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Jharkhand between January 5 and 9, 2026. A gradual fall in minimum temperatures by 2 to 4 degrees Celsius is also likely over Central and East India over the next three days.
Passengers planning travel to, from, or through North India in the coming days are strongly advised to stay updated with real-time flight information from their airlines and prepare for potential schedule changes due to the challenging winter weather.
