Dense Fog disrupts flight operations across Northern India, Delhi airport worst hit

Flight operations at several airports across northern India were disrupted on Monday due to dense fog, prompting the Ministry of Civil Aviation to issue a travel advisory warning passengers of delays and cancellations.

In a post on X, the ministry said foggy conditions in parts of northern India could impact flight schedules at select airports, advising travellers to stay in touch with airlines through official communication channels and allow extra time for airport arrival and check-in.

“Due to fog conditions across parts of Northern India, flight operations at select airports may be impacted, leading to possible delays,” the ministry said, listing customer support numbers of major domestic carriers to assist affected passengers.

The worst disruptions were reported at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in Delhi , where visibility dropped to as low as 50 metres during the early hours of Monday. The airport was operating under Category-III conditions , which permit aircraft landings in extremely low visibility but often result in slower operations and cascading delays.

According to airport sources, around 65 per cent of departing flights from IGI Airport were delayed as of early Monday morning, with airlines warning of high cancellation rates through the day. Delhi’s Hindon Airport was also affected by fluctuating visibility, impacting flight schedules.

“Fluctuating visibility has led to changes in flight schedules, and operations may be slower than usual,” IndiGo said, urging passengers to regularly check flight status and use online options for rebooking or refunds if impacted.

Fog-related disruptions also led to diversions. An Air India Express flight from Goa’s Mopa Airport to Delhi , which departed at 11:55 pm on Sunday, was diverted to Ahmedabad after being unable to land in Delhi or Jaipur due to dense fog and air traffic congestion. The diversion caused crowding and delays at Ahmedabad Airport, further inconveniencing passengers.

Authorities said visibility in Delhi was expected to improve gradually, reaching around 100 metres by 8:30 am and up to 1,000 metres by early afternoon , which could help normalise operations later in the day.

Airlines have advised passengers travelling to or from Delhi and other fog-prone northern airports to check flight status before leaving for the airport and to plan for possible delays as winter fog continues to affect aviation operations.