New Delhi, Dec 18 (UNI) Due to the fog situation in the national capital and several other cities in north India, at least 27 flights had to be cancelled at the Delhi Airport.
According to the airport officials, it was due to affected visibility on account of dense fog on Thursday morning, the flight operations had to be put under the CAT- III conditions.
The official said that cancelled flights included 16 for departures, and 11 arrivals.
Later in the day, the flight operations went smoothly, as per the Delhi Airport officials.
Airlines concerned issued passenger advisories as per the situation with regard to the operations across airports concerned.
Air India, taking to social media platform X, had stated that over the next few days, potential dense fog conditions resulting in poor visibility may impact flight operations at their primary hub in Delhi, and a few airports in northern and eastern India, with a cascading effect in some other cities across our network.
“To help plan your travel better, especially during the holiday season, may we request you to check your flight status before heading to the airport. For your convenience, Air India has taken several proactive measures to mitigate fog-related disruptions.
However, if dense fog leads to sudden cancellations or prolonged delays, our ground colleagues will be available round-the-clock to assist you and make alternative arrangements,” the airline said.
Under its ‘FogCare’ initiative, passengers on flights likely to be affected will receive advance alerts and can change flights without extra payment or seek a full refund without penalty.
IndiGo advised that low visibility over Chandigarh and other areas in North India has affected flight schedules.
The airline said, “As the morning approaches under misty winter skies, fog is predicted across parts of North and East India, which may lead to reduced visibility and a slower pace of flight movements during the early hours. In the interest of safety, some flights may experience delays or adjustments. Our teams across airports are fully prepared and working in close coordination to manage schedules smoothly, assist customers, and maintain a steady flow of operations.”
IndiGo further cautioned that foggy conditions could also impact road traffic, urging travelers to allow extra time for airport transfers.
“Customers travelling early are advised to plan with additional buffer time and check the latest flight status on our website or app before leaving home. Thank you for your patience and continued trust as we work steadily through the early hours, with visibility expected to improve as the day progresses,” the airline added.
SpiceJet also issued an advisory, warning that dense fog in Patna and Delhi could affect departures, arrivals, and consequential flights, and urged passengers to check their flight status before traveling.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported dense fog over Delhi on Thursday morning, with visibility dropping to 100 metres at both Palam and Safdarjung in the early hours.
