Flight operations across several key Indian airports faced significant disruptions on Sunday, December 21, due to dense fog conditions impacting visibility. The national carrier IndiGo issued multiple advisories throughout the day, informing passengers of delays and potential cancellations.
IndiGo Issues Advisories for Multiple Cities
IndiGo first alerted passengers about low visibility and fog affecting schedules in Bangalore and Amritsar. In a subsequent statement released around 11:20 AM, the airline specifically highlighted that dense fog in Srinagar continued to severely impact visibility, disrupting flights to and from the city. The airline warned that evolving conditions could lead to further delays and some cancellations based on operational feasibility.
"We're keeping a close watch on the weather and doing our best to get you where you need to be, safely and smoothly," IndiGo stated. They urged flyers to stay updated on their flight status and assured them of full support from ground teams. The airline expressed hope for clearer skies and thanked passengers for their patience.
Air India Activates 'FogCare' Amid Widespread Disruptions
Similarly, Air India warned of dense fog with reduced visibility in Delhi and parts of northern and eastern India on Sunday morning, stating it would affect schedules across its network. The airline highlighted its proactive 'FogCare' initiative, which provides advance alerts to passengers on flights likely to be affected. This initiative allows passengers to change flights without extra payment or seek a full refund without penalty.
Air India advised customers to check their flight status online before heading to the airport and to allow extra time for their journey. The airline also provided its 24x7 contact centre numbers for assistance.
Official Advisories from AAI and IMD Forecast
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) issued an advisory confirming that fog conditions in parts of Northern India were affecting visibility and could lead to delays or changes at select airports. They advised passengers to check updates via official airline channels and allocate extra time for travel and formalities. The AAI deployed passenger assistance teams at affected airports to provide on-ground support.
Separately, authorities at West Bengal's Bagdogra Airport reported that flights might be affected due to dense fog, with conditions expected to improve in the next few hours.
The disruptions followed warnings from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), which predicted dense to very dense fog during Saturday night and Sunday morning across several North and central Indian states. The IMD's specific regional warnings included:
- Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Madhya Pradesh: Till the morning of December 21.
- Jharkhand: December 21 & 22.
- East Uttar Pradesh: December 22, 26 & 27.
- Punjab & Haryana (isolated pockets) and West Uttar Pradesh: December 25–27.
All airlines and authorities have emphasized passenger safety and communication as the top priority during this challenging weather period, urging travelers to verify their flight status directly with their airline before proceeding to the airport.
