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Dense fog and toxic smog blanketed Delhi on Monday morning, severely reducing visibility and causing widespread disruption to flight operations at the city’s airport. Authorities said 40 flights were cancelled and two others diverted as poor conditions affected departures and arrivals across the capital.
The low visibility also delayed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled departure for a three-nation foreign tour to Jordan, Ethiopia and Oman, as Delhi continued to grapple with some of its worst air quality levels of the season.
“Due to low visibility, 40 flights have been cancelled and 4 have been diverted so far,” Delhi Airport said in a statement, reported ANI.
“Heavy Fog Alert for Northern India Delhi (DEL) & other airports in Northern India are experiencing dense fog, severely affecting visibility. For Passengers: Before heading to the airport, please check the latest flight status with your airline. Check flight information on the airport website/app. Please allow extra travel time. Safety is our top priority. Our teams & ATC are working tirelessly to minimize disruptions. Thank you for your patience and cooperation," reads the Ministry of Civil Aviation's post on X.
Several Indian airlines, including IndiGo, Air India and SpiceJet warned passengers of potential flight cancellations and delays at Delhi Airport. As winter’s first spell of fog blankets Delhi-NCR region, several airports across North India are experiencing impact on operations.
As the day proceeded, GMR Airports-owned Delhi Airport informed passengers around 11:00 that runway visibility at the airport was improving, “however, some flights may be impacted.”
As per IndiGo’s flight cancellation portal, India’s largest airline cancelled 109 flights today across routes linked to Delhi, including services to and from Varanasi, Srinagar, Amritsar, Patna, Indore, Jaipur, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Guwahati, Jammu, Leh, Pune and other regional destinations.
Air India has cancelled 19 flights in the wake of dense fog and low visibility in Delhi. “Poor visibility due to dense fog in Delhi this morning has impacted flight operations for all airlines. We are closely monitoring conditions and will resume operations as soon as it is safe to do so,” the Tata-owned airline said.
Informing passengers about flight cancellations, the airline listed 19 flights, stating the avoidance of prolonged uncertainty for guests.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation issued a fog alert for North Indian airports. “Before heading to the airport, please check the latest flight status with your airline. Check flight information on the airport website/app…Our teams & ATC are working tirelessly to minimize disruptions.”
Delhi Airport, in a statement issued at 10:05, stated that flight operations are still impacted due to dense fog. It reaffirmed that on-ground officials are working closely with all stakeholders to assist passengers and provide necessary support across Terminals.
In an earlier statement, the airport authority said that flight operations are continuing despite fog conditions, but warned that flights not equipped for CAT III operations may be affected.
CAT III (Category III) operations refer to an advanced aircraft landing system that allows planes to land safely in very low visibility, such as dense fog.
The low visibility also delayed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled departure for a three-nation foreign tour to Jordan, Ethiopia and Oman, as Delhi continued to grapple with some of its worst air quality levels of the season.
“Due to low visibility, 40 flights have been cancelled and 4 have been diverted so far,” Delhi Airport said in a statement, reported ANI.
“Heavy Fog Alert for Northern India Delhi (DEL) & other airports in Northern India are experiencing dense fog, severely affecting visibility. For Passengers: Before heading to the airport, please check the latest flight status with your airline. Check flight information on the airport website/app. Please allow extra travel time. Safety is our top priority. Our teams & ATC are working tirelessly to minimize disruptions. Thank you for your patience and cooperation," reads the Ministry of Civil Aviation's post on X.
Several Indian airlines, including IndiGo, Air India and SpiceJet warned passengers of potential flight cancellations and delays at Delhi Airport. As winter’s first spell of fog blankets Delhi-NCR region, several airports across North India are experiencing impact on operations.
Airlines issue advisories, visibility shows gradual improvement
As the day proceeded, GMR Airports-owned Delhi Airport informed passengers around 11:00 that runway visibility at the airport was improving, “however, some flights may be impacted.”
As per IndiGo’s flight cancellation portal, India’s largest airline cancelled 109 flights today across routes linked to Delhi, including services to and from Varanasi, Srinagar, Amritsar, Patna, Indore, Jaipur, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Guwahati, Jammu, Leh, Pune and other regional destinations.
Air India has cancelled 19 flights in the wake of dense fog and low visibility in Delhi. “Poor visibility due to dense fog in Delhi this morning has impacted flight operations for all airlines. We are closely monitoring conditions and will resume operations as soon as it is safe to do so,” the Tata-owned airline said.
Informing passengers about flight cancellations, the airline listed 19 flights, stating the avoidance of prolonged uncertainty for guests.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation issued a fog alert for North Indian airports. “Before heading to the airport, please check the latest flight status with your airline. Check flight information on the airport website/app…Our teams & ATC are working tirelessly to minimize disruptions.”
Delhi Airport, in a statement issued at 10:05, stated that flight operations are still impacted due to dense fog. It reaffirmed that on-ground officials are working closely with all stakeholders to assist passengers and provide necessary support across Terminals.
In an earlier statement, the airport authority said that flight operations are continuing despite fog conditions, but warned that flights not equipped for CAT III operations may be affected.
CAT III (Category III) operations refer to an advanced aircraft landing system that allows planes to land safely in very low visibility, such as dense fog.
