Flight Disruptions at Delhi Airport: Fog Advisory

Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport is currently facing significant flight disruptions due to dense fog and poor visibility conditions. The situation has led airlines to issue advisories urging passengers to stay informed about their flight statuses before heading to the airport. While operations are slowly normalizing, the disruptions are expected to persist.

On December 15, early morning visibility recorded at Safdarjung airport dropped to as low as zero meters between 1:30 AM and 2:30 AM, which continued until 8:30 AM. By 10 AM, visibility improved slightly to 400 meters. Palam airport also reported low visibility of 50 meters between 6 AM and 9 AM IST. These weather conditions have caused considerable delays and cancellations across various airlines.

Air India acknowledged the impact of the dense fog, stating that it led to significant air traffic congestion at Delhi Airport. Many of their flights faced delays or cancellations, creating a ripple effect across their flight schedules. Despite these challenges being unavoidable, Air India assured passengers that their teams are working tirelessly to assist those affected with rebooking or full refunds.

IndiGo Airlines, which has also faced thousands of cancellations recently, advised travelers to check their flight statuses due to potential slowdowns caused by fog during the winter season. They emphasized that their teams are prepared and are closely monitoring the weather to minimize inconveniences for passengers.

Other airlines, including Akasa Air and SpiceJet, have also reported disruptions due to the severe weather conditions affecting flights in Northern India. Social media platforms have seen users expressing their frustrations about the extended delays, raising questions about the operational capabilities of the airport equipped with Category III Instrument Landing Systems (ILS) designed for low visibility conditions.

In response to the ongoing challenges, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has mandated that all flight crew members be qualified to operate under the lowest visibility minima applicable. With Delhi being one of six CAT-3 airports in India, passengers are encouraged to remain updated and check their flight statuses regularly during this foggy season.