Dense fog engulfed the Delhi-NCR region on Wednesday morning, sharply reducing visibility and severely disrupting air traffic.
At Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, 148 flights were cancelled — including 78 arrivals and 70 departures — while more than 150 others were delayed. Airlines such as IndiGo, Air India and SpiceJet issued travel advisories, urging passengers to check flight updates before heading to the airport.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a weather alert for the New Year, warning that dense to very dense fog along with a severe cold wave is likely during late-night and early-morning hours across Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Odisha.
Delhi’s air quality also remained in the very poor category, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 384 at 8 am, while several areas reported AQI levels above 400.
IGI Airport said flight operations are being conducted under CAT III conditions due to fog, which may lead to delays or cancellations, and advised travellers to stay in touch with their airlines for real-time updates.
IndiGo cautioned that poor visibility could affect flights throughout the day. Air India said it has proactively cancelled some morning flights and activated its FogCare initiative, allowing eligible passengers to reschedule or claim full refunds without penalty. SpiceJet also warned that fog may impact all departures and arrivals, asking passengers to regularly check flight status.