The Aryavarth Express
New Delhi:
Flight operations at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport were disrupted on Thursday due to dense fog across Northern India, leading to the cancellation of 27 flights, including 16 departures and 11 arrivals, officials said.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) advised passengers to remain in close contact with their respective airlines for real-time updates and to regularly check official airline and airport websites or mobile applications. Travellers were also urged to factor in additional travel time to avoid inconvenience caused by weather-related delays.
In a post on X, the ministry said passenger facilitation teams have been deployed across airports to assist travellers affected by the adverse conditions. “The ongoing fog conditions in Northern India are impacting airport operations. Passengers are advised to stay in touch with their airlines for real-time flight updates and plan their journeys with additional travel time,” the post read.
Earlier in the day, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) issued a weather advisory warning of persistent dense fog at several airports in Northern India, cautioning passengers about low visibility and possible delays. “Persistent fog is affecting several airports across Northern India, resulting in low visibility and possible flight delays,” AAI said in its advisory on X.
AAI further advised passengers to confirm their flight status with airlines before heading to the airport, monitor official airport communication channels, and plan their journeys in advance.
The disruption comes as Delhi continues to experience dense fog and deteriorating air quality, significantly reducing visibility during early morning hours. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the city’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 361 around 1 pm on Thursday, placing it in the ‘very poor’ category.
Meanwhile, authorities have stepped up enforcement measures to tackle rising pollution levels. Transport enforcement teams conducted vehicle checks across the national capital, a day after the Supreme Court permitted the Delhi government to take action against vehicles operating below BS-IV emission standards in the NCR.
As part of the measures, vehicles without a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) will be denied fuel at petrol pumps, and trucks carrying construction materials into Delhi have been banned to help curb air pollution.
