Over 150 flights cancelled in Delhi due to dense fog

New Delhi, Dec 19:  Due to dense fog, more than 150 flights have been cancelled so far on Friday at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi.

Delhi has been shrouded in dense fog since late last night, significantly reducing visibility. Flight operations have been conducted under CAT III procedures since 9:00 pm yesterday to ensure safety amid the low-visibility conditions.

The fog has affected flight schedules, with airport authorities confirming that operations continue under CAT III conditions.

CAT III is a category of the Instrument Landing System (ILS) that permits aircraft to land in extremely low visibility conditions by allowing lower decision heights. In some cases, CAT III enables near zero-visibility landings, though it requires advanced aircraft equipment and specialized pilot training.

Amid dense fog affecting flight schedules, airport authorities said operations are currently being conducted under CAT III conditions.

“Dense fog is impacting flight schedules, and operations are currently under CAT III conditions. Our ground teams are working in close coordination with all stakeholders to assist passengers and provide necessary support across all terminals. For real-time flight updates, passengers are advised to contact their respective airlines. We regret the inconvenience caused and appreciate your understanding,” an official statement said.

Meanwhile, IndiGo issued a travel advisory highlighting that early-morning fog in Delhi and several parts of northern India is disrupting flight operations. In a post on X, the airline said reduced visibility is affecting flight movements, a seasonal occurrence during winter.

The post read, “Early-morning fog in Delhi and across parts of northern India is reducing visibility and disrupting flight operations. We seek your understanding, as this is a seasonal occurrence, and flight movements are being managed accordingly to ensure safe and orderly operations. Customers travelling in the early hours may experience delays or revised timings. We recommend checking the latest flight status prior to leaving for the airport.”

At 7:05 a.m. on Friday, Delhi Air Quality Index (AQI) plunged to 387, degrading further from Thursday’s rolling average of 373, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) at the Sameer app.

There are also reports of dense fog from other parts of North India. As a result, a large number of arriving and departing flights are being affected.

It is noteworthy that throughout this week, dense fog during the morning hours in Delhi has had a significant impact on flight operations. (UNI)