The Aryavarth Express
New Delhi: Flight operations at Indira Gandhi International Airport were severely affected on Tuesday due to dense fog across the national capital, leading to widespread disruptions. Around 60 arriving flights and 58 departures were cancelled, while at least 16 flights bound for Delhi were diverted to other cities because of poor visibility.
Earlier in the day, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) had issued an advisory cautioning passengers about possible delays at select airports in Northern India owing to prevailing fog conditions. In a post on X, AAI urged travellers to remain in touch with their respective airlines through official communication channels for real-time updates and to plan their journeys with additional buffer time for airport arrival and check-in.
“Due to prevailing fog conditions today, 30 December 2025, visibility levels across Northern India have reduced at select airports. This may impact flight operations, including possible delays,” AAI said, advising passengers to stay updated on their flight status.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation also released an advisory, directing airlines to strictly follow passenger facilitation norms. The ministry emphasised timely dissemination of flight information, provision of meals during delays, rebooking or refunds in case of cancellations, baggage assistance, and prompt grievance redressal. Passengers were advised to proactively check their flight status and allow extra travel time amid low-visibility conditions.
Meanwhile, Delhi witnessed extremely poor visibility as a thick blanket of dense fog enveloped the city. Visibility dropped to near-zero levels in areas such as the Dwarka Expressway, Dhaula Kuan, and around the airport, severely impacting road and air travel.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for dense fog, warning of significantly reduced visibility and difficult travel conditions over the next few days. Compounding the situation, Delhi’s air quality remained in the ‘very poor’ category, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 384, prompting authorities to advise residents to limit outdoor activities.
