Dense fog and worsening air quality across northern India disrupted flight operations on Monday, prompting the civil aviation ministry and airlines to issue advisories urging passengers to check flight status before heading to airports.
New Delhi witnessed widespread flight disruptions on Monday as dense fog and poor visibility enveloped large parts of northern India, prompting the Ministry of Civil Aviation to issue a “heavy fog alert” and caution air travellers to remain vigilant.
In an advisory issued early Monday, the ministry urged passengers to check the latest flight status with airlines and airports before leaving for terminals, warning that weather conditions could lead to delays, diversions, and cancellations.
“Safety is our top priority. Our teams along with Air Traffic Control are working tirelessly to minimise disruptions,” the ministry said in a post on social media platform X, while requesting travellers to allow extra travel time and cooperate with airport authorities.
Flight Disruptions at Delhi Airport
According to officials at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), at least 40 flights were cancelled and four were diverted by Monday morning due to severely reduced visibility. Several other flights experienced delays, particularly during early morning hours when fog density was at its peak.
Airport authorities confirmed that flight operations at Delhi airport are currently being conducted under CAT III conditions, a low-visibility landing system that allows aircraft to land safely even in dense fog. However, officials cautioned that CAT III operations can still result in slower movement on runways and extended waiting times.
“While CAT III systems enable continued operations, dense fog can still cause delays and rescheduling,” an airport official said, adding that ground teams were actively assisting passengers across terminals.
Airlines Issue Travel Advisories
Major domestic carriers, including IndiGo and Air India, issued separate advisories warning passengers of potential disruptions to flight schedules due to prevailing weather conditions.
In a post on X, IndiGo said low visibility over Delhi could impact both arrivals and departures. “We’re keeping a close watch on the weather and are doing our best to get you where you need to be, safely and smoothly,” the airline said, urging passengers to regularly check updates via its website or mobile app.
Air India also advised travellers to verify flight schedules before leaving for the airport. “Poor visibility due to dense fog is impacting flight operations in Delhi and parts of northern India,” the airline said, requesting passengers to stay updated through official channels.
Both airlines assured passengers that ground and customer support teams were on standby to assist during the period of disruption.
Heavy Fog Across Northern India
The aviation advisory comes amid persistent fog and smog conditions across Delhi and neighbouring states, which significantly reduced visibility on roads and at airports on Monday morning.
Meteorological officials said low temperatures combined with weak winds allowed pollutants to remain trapped close to the surface, worsening visibility and compounding travel disruptions.
Several northern cities reported similar conditions, with airports in the region closely monitoring weather updates and coordinating with airlines to manage operations.
Delhi Records ‘Severe’ Air Quality
Compounding the fog problem, Delhi’s air quality deteriorated sharply, with the city recording ‘severe’ Air Quality Index (AQI) levels at multiple monitoring stations.
According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), air quality was classified as ‘severe’ at 38 stations and ‘very poor’ at two others. Jahangirpuri emerged as the worst-affected area, recording an AQI of 498, close to the maximum possible reading.
The AQI in Delhi reportedly climbed to 461 on Sunday, marking the city’s most polluted day so far this winter and the second-worst December air quality reading on record. The monitoring station at Wazirpur touched the maximum AQI value of 500, beyond which CPCB does not register data.
Under CPCB standards, an AQI between 401 and 500 falls in the ‘severe’ category and poses serious health risks, especially to children, the elderly, and people with respiratory ailments.
Passenger Advisory
Authorities have urged passengers travelling to or from Delhi and other northern airports to remain cautious, monitor official airline communications, and factor in additional time for airport procedures.
“Please check flight information through official airport websites or airline apps before heading out,” the civil aviation ministry said, emphasising that safety considerations may necessitate operational adjustments.
Delhi airport officials also expressed regret for inconvenience caused to passengers, stating that efforts are underway to ensure smooth travel despite challenging weather conditions.
With weather conditions expected to remain unfavourable over the next few days, travellers have been advised to plan journeys carefully as aviation authorities continue to monitor visibility and air quality levels closely.
