Fog Chaos! Delhi Airport Grounds Flights; IndiGo, Air India Warn of Mass Cancellations - Are You Affected?

Fog Grips North India, Disrupting Air Travel

Dense fog blanketed Delhi and large swathes of North, East, and Northeast India on Monday morning, causing widespread disruptions to air travel. Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi has implemented CAT-3 procedures, a specialized system for low visibility conditions, as visibility plunged to a mere 50 meters. This has led to a slew of flight delays and warnings of potential cancellations from major carriers. ### Airport Operations Under Strain Delhi airport authority issued an advisory urging passengers not to proceed to the airport without verifying their flight status directly with their respective airlines. The activation of CAT-3 measures, while allowing equipped aircraft to land, often leads to operational backlogs and delays. Temperatures hovered around 11 degrees Celsius, exacerbating the poor visibility conditions on both air and ground. ### Airlines Issue Warnings and Advisories InterGlobe Aviation Limited (IndiGo), India's largest airline, warned of visibility impacts across Delhi, Amritsar, and Chandigarh, stating that its teams were monitoring the situation closely. The airline advised passengers to check their flight status on its website and mentioned options for rescheduling or refunds. Similarly, Air India alerted passengers to potential disruptions on its primary hub in Delhi and across its North Indian network, citing a cascading impact on schedules. Air India also offered complimentary rescheduling or full refunds through its 'Fog Care' service. SpiceJet also confirmed that departures and arrivals at Delhi, along with consequential flights, might be affected due to the poor visibility. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has issued helpline numbers for airlines and deployed assistance teams to support passengers at affected airports, emphasizing safety and smooth operations. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has officially designated December 10, 2025, to February 10, 2026, as the official fog window for the season, acknowledging the recurring nature of such disruptions during winter months. ### Impact Passenger inconvenience is significant, with many facing extended waits and uncertainty. Airlines could incur financial losses due to flight cancellations, rescheduling, and increased operational costs. The disruptions also highlight the ongoing challenges of maintaining schedule integrity during adverse weather conditions in North India. Impact rating: 7/10 ### Difficult Terms Explained * **CAT-3 Procedures:** A set of specialized airport and aircraft operating procedures designed to allow flights to operate safely in very low visibility conditions, such as dense fog. * **DGCA:** Directorate General of Civil Aviation, India's aviation regulatory body responsible for safety and policy. * **Visibility:** The greatest horizontal distance at which an object can be seen and identified. In aviation, it's a critical factor for flight operations.