Thick fog and hazardous smog continued to shroud the national capital on Monday, causing widespread disruption to daily life and grounding air travel across Delhi and neighbouring regions. Visibility remained dangerously low, forcing the cancellation of flights and delaying hundreds of others.
Flight Operations Hit Hard
Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) reported a major disruption in flight schedules. A total of 128 flights were cancelled, evenly split between 64 arrivals and 64 departures. Additionally, eight flights were diverted, while nearly 200 others faced delays, with an average departure lag of about 24 minutes, according to Flightradar24.com.
Delhi airport operator DIAL confirmed that while runway visibility is gradually improving, travellers should expect further delays as conditions remain unstable.
Airlines Issue Passenger Advisories
Several major carriers, including IndiGo, Air India, and SpiceJet, issued advisories urging passengers to check flight schedules before travelling. IndiGo specifically highlighted that fluctuating visibility due to persistent fog was affecting operations at both Delhi and Hindon airports. The airline warned that slower flight movements could continue until conditions improve.
A spokesperson for IndiGo said, “Fog continues to persist across Delhi and several airports in northern India. Visibility remains reduced, and flight movements are presently slower than normal, with some delays being experienced.”
Delhi’s Air Traffic Amid Smog Crisis
Indira Gandhi International Airport, managed by Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), handles around 1,300 flights daily. Dense fog and hazardous smog have now become a recurring challenge during winter months, highlighting the vulnerability of air travel to weather extremes in the region.
Passengers are advised to monitor flight updates closely, plan for additional travel time, and follow airline advisories to avoid inconvenience.