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Dense fog wreaks havoc at Delhi’s IGI Airport, cancelling hundreds of flights. What measures has the government ordered airlines to protect passengers, and how is the city’s busiest airport managing operations amid low visibility?
Dense fog wreaks havoc at Delhi’s IGI Airport
New Delhi: The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Friday night issued a passenger facilitation advisory to airlines following widespread flight disruptions at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) caused by dense fog and low visibility. The advisory instructs airlines to strictly adhere to passenger convenience and safety norms.
Under the guidelines, airlines are required to provide timely flight updates, meals and refreshments during extended delays, and rebooking or refunds in case of cancellations. The advisory also emphasizes assistance for persons with disabilities, baggage facilitation, grievance redressal, and ensuring passengers are not denied boarding after timely check-in.
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The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been tasked with ensuring uniform implementation of these measures and closely monitoring airline compliance. Authorities reiterated that passenger safety and convenience remain the top priority amid ongoing weather-related disruptions.
In view of prevailing fog and low-visibility conditions impacting flight operations, airlines have been directed to strictly comply with passenger facilitation norms, in the interest of passenger safety and convenience. This includes:
• Timely and accurate flight information
•… pic.twitter.com/twES9Vx947— MoCA_GoI (@MoCA_GoI) December 19, 2025
Dense fog severely affected operations at IGIA on Friday, resulting in the cancellation of at least 177 flights and delays to over 500 services. Cancellations included both domestic and international flights. Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 showed nearly 500 delays at the airport during the day, creating significant inconvenience for travelers.
Earlier, the Ministry of Civil Aviation stated that it was coordinating with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to make operational decisions based on real-time weather updates. Some airlines proactively cancelled flights and informed passengers to avoid unnecessary trips to the airport, offering full refunds and free rescheduling.
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Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), which manages IGIA, confirmed that flight operations were continuing under CAT III conditions, allowing arrivals and departures despite low visibility. By evening, DIAL reported that operations had returned to normal without disruption.
Several airlines also issued their own advisories. Air India Express cancelled multiple flights to cities including Pune, Ranchi, Bagdogra, Indore, Patna, Goa, Varanasi, and Jodhpur. IndiGo highlighted that Delhi NCR, Amritsar, Jabalpur, and Jalandhar were experiencing heavy fog, slowing flight operations.
IGIA, India’s busiest airport, typically handles around 1,300 flights daily. Passengers have been urged to check flight status with airlines before heading to the airport as winter fog conditions continue.
