Delhi woke up to chilly weather and dense fog on Monday, sharply reducing visibility and causing major disruptions at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport.
Visibility dropped to just 50 meters, leading to flight delays and cancellations. Airlines, including IndiGo and Air India, have issued advisories warning passengers to check their flight status and allow extra travel time.
IGI Airport is currently operating under Category-III conditions, which permit landings in low-visibility situations. Approximately 65% of departures from the airport were reported delayed in the early hours, with high cancellation rates expected throughout the day.
IndiGo, in a travel advisory, said it is monitoring the situation closely and making operational adjustments to ensure safe and smooth travel. The airline stated:
“#Delhi and #Hindon (Airport) continue to remain wrapped in chilly winter air and lingering fog this morning. The fluctuating visibility has led to changes in flight schedules, and operations may be slower than usual as conditions evolve. Our teams on-ground are prioritising safety and compliance with visibility requirements. We recommend keeping a tab on your flight status via [link]. If your flight is impacted, you can conveniently rebook your journey or claim a refund through [link]. Our airport teams are also available to assist should you need support while at the terminal. Once the weather settles, operations will gradually stabilise, and flights will depart as planned. Thank you for your patience and understanding. We look forward to welcoming you onboard soon.”
Fog-related disruptions have also led to diversions. An Air India Express flight from Goa to Delhi, which departed from Mopa Airport at 11:55 PM, was diverted to Ahmedabad after it could not land in Delhi or Jaipur due to congestion and low visibility. The diversion caused a crowd at Ahmedabad Airport, affecting passenger schedules.
Meteorological updates suggest that fog will gradually clear, with visibility expected to improve to around 100 meters by 8:30 am and up to 1,000 meters by 1:30 pm. In the meantime, airlines are working to minimise disruptions and assist affected passengers.
The dense fog comes amid deteriorating air quality in the city. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 402 at 8 am, entering the "severe" category. Several parts of Delhi recorded even higher levels: Anand Vihar at 455, Bawana at 411, Wazirpur at 443, Rohini at 442, Punjabi Bagh at 426, and Patparganj at 431.
Motorists navigating the city also faced difficulties, keeping headlights on due to poor visibility. Delhi’s temperature hovered around 22.5 degrees Celsius on Monday morning. Authorities have urged residents and travelers to exercise caution amid the combination of fog and high pollution levels.