Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) faced severe disruptions on Saturday due to dense fog, affecting over 400 flights, leading to delays, diversions, and cancellations. The low visibility conditions, which persisted for the second consecutive day, impacted both domestic and international flight operations.
Between 12:15 am and 1:30 am, a total of 19 flights were diverted due to reduced visibility, including 13 domestic flights, four international flights, and two non-scheduled flights. Additionally, more than 45 flights were canceled as a result of adverse weather conditions in Delhi as well as at destination airports.
Flight tracking website Flightradar24 reported that the total number of delayed flights exceeded 400 at Delhi airport. IndiGo, the country’s largest airline, temporarily halted both departures and arrivals during the early morning hours. In a statement posted on social media, IndiGo urged passengers to check with the airline for updated flight information, as operations were affected by the limited visibility, especially for flights not equipped with CAT III-compliant systems. CAT III is a facility that enables aircraft to operate under low-visibility conditions.
Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) also issued a post on X (formerly Twitter) at 6:56 am, apologizing for any inconvenience caused and noting that while takeoffs and landings continued at the airport, delays and diversions were inevitable due to the foggy weather. Air India also acknowledged the impact of the poor visibility on operations in Delhi and parts of northern India.
The fog, which had also caused disruptions on Friday, continued to affect visibility across northern India, including cities such as Chandigarh, Amritsar, Srinagar, Guwahati, and Patna, even during the daytime. IndiGo assured its passengers that its teams were working diligently to assist those impacted and to resume operations as soon as the weather conditions improved.
Indira Gandhi International Airport, which handles around 1,300 flight movements daily, is expected to face continued challenges as fog persists in the region. Passengers are advised to stay in touch with their respective airlines for the latest updates and further travel guidance.
The disruption at Delhi Airport serves as a reminder of the unpredictable impact weather can have on air travel and the importance of proactive communication between airlines, airports, and passengers in such conditions.
Sources By Agencies
