Dense fog blanketed Delhi-NCR on Monday morning, causing major disruptions to air travel at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. Due to near-zero visibility, at least 128 flights were cancelled, while eight flights were diverted, airport authorities confirmed.
Along with cancellations, 178 departures and 69 arrivals were delayed as of 10:30 am, according to data from FlightRadar24. Officials said that low-visibility CAT III procedures were implemented to ensure safe aircraft operations in challenging weather conditions.
The Delhi airport issued an advisory asking passengers to regularly check flight updates. “Flight operations are currently being conducted under CAT III conditions due to dense fog. Delays and cancellations may occur. Our ground teams are actively assisting passengers,” the airport said in a post on X.
Several airlines also urged travellers to confirm flight status before heading to the airport.
Airlines Issue Travel Advisories
IndiGo Airlines said fluctuating visibility in Delhi has impacted flight schedules at Delhi and Hindon airports. The airline added that operations may remain slower than usual but are expected to stabilise once weather conditions improve.
Air India, in an advisory issued on Sunday evening, warned passengers of possible delays and advised them to allow extra travel time. SpiceJet also asked travellers to plan ahead, stating that poor visibility is likely to continue affecting normal flight operations.
Rail Services Also Affected
The dense fog has disrupted rail services as well, with several trains running late across north India due to reduced visibility during early morning hours.
Cold Wave and Fog Across North India
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast dense to very dense fog across parts of north India over the next few days. Foggy conditions are expected during night and early morning hours in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, and west Uttar Pradesh until December 31.
East Uttar Pradesh may continue to experience low visibility until January 1, with gradual improvement thereafter.
The IMD has issued an orange alert for Delhi on December 29. The national capital is likely to record a maximum temperature of around 22°C and a minimum of about 7°C.
