Fog disrupts flights: Dense fog hits Delhi airport operations; 177 cancelled, 500+ delayed

Dense fog disrupted flight operations at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on Friday, leading to the cancellation of at least 177 flights and delays to more than 500 services, PTI reported citing officials.An official said the cancellations included both departures and arrivals, covering some international flights as well. Data from flight tracking website Flightradar24 showed that nearly 500 flights were delayed through the day due to poor visibility conditions.The civil aviation ministry said it was closely coordinating with the India Meteorological Department (IMD), with operational decisions being taken based on real-time weather forecasts. In a post on X, the ministry said airlines were cancelling some flights in advance and informing passengers to avoid unnecessary travel to airports. It added that full refunds and free rescheduling were being offered, and airport directors had been instructed to ensure adequate passenger support.Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), which operates the IGIA, said in a post on X at 7.10 pm that airport operations were running normally without disruption, even as flights continued to operate under CAT III conditions due to dense fog. “Both arrivals and departures are taking place, though some flights may experience delays or disruptions,” DIAL said earlier in the day.Air India Express said it cancelled multiple flights from Delhi to destinations such as Pune, Ranchi, Bagdogra, Indore, Patna, Goa, Varanasi and Jodhpur, citing fog conditions. IndiGo also warned of slower operations, saying fluctuating visibility over Delhi NCR and parts of north India had led to changes in flight schedules, with ground teams prioritising safety and visibility norms.IGIA, the country’s busiest airport, typically handles around 1,300 flights daily.