A thick blanket of dense fog engulfed Delhi and large parts of northern India on Friday morning, severely disrupting air travel and leading to the cancellation of a significant number of flights. The unsettling weather conditions prompted the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a red alert for the national capital, warning of continued disruptions.
Flight Operations Grind to a Halt
The impact was most acutely felt at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), where flight schedules were thrown into disarray. Official data revealed that a total of 79 departing flights, including 2 international services, and 73 arriving flights, also including 2 international, were cancelled. Airport authorities confirmed that operations were being conducted under CAT III conditions, which involves a specialized Instrument Landing System (ILS) designed for landings in extremely low visibility, sometimes near zero.
In an official statement, the airport expressed regret for the inconvenience and advised travelers to coordinate directly with their airlines for real-time updates. "Dense fog is impacting flight schedules. Our on-ground teams are coordinating with all stakeholders to assist passengers across terminals," the statement read.
Airlines and Passengers Scramble
Major airlines were forced to issue advisories to their customers. Budget carrier IndiGo took to social media platform X to inform passengers about the widespread disruptions. "Early-morning fog in Delhi and across parts of northern India is reducing visibility and disrupting flight operations," the airline posted. It cited the issue as a seasonal challenge and urged customers traveling in the early hours to check their flight status online before heading to the airport.
The airline assured that its teams were monitoring the situation closely and making operational adjustments to minimize passenger inconvenience. However, for travelers, the Friday morning chaos was a continuation of a difficult week. The situation had been particularly severe on Thursday, when over 500 flights were delayed and 27 were cancelled. Visibility at the airport had plummeted to a mere 100 metres between 6:45 am and 7:30 am.
Passengers inside terminals faced long, anxious waits, rescheduling hassles, and concerns over missed connections. Many also voiced frustrations over partial refunds for cancelled tickets, reporting deductions for convenience fees or travel insurance.
Broader Travel and Health Concerns
The IMD's warning extended beyond aviation, highlighting potential safety concerns and delays on national highways and railway routes due to the significantly reduced visibility. Compounding the travel misery, Delhi residents also woke up to hazardous air quality on Friday. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board recorded the Air Quality Index (AQI) at 387 at 8 am, which falls in the 'very poor' category, posing additional health risks.
This week's most severe disruption occurred on Monday, witnessing over 800 flight delays, more than 200 cancellations, and five diversions. While conditions showed slight improvement mid-week, the persistent and recurring fog continues to be a major operational challenge for airports and airlines across North India, testing the patience of thousands of passengers during the peak winter season.
