New Delhi: A dense blanket of fog enveloped the national capital and other parts of northern India on Monday, throwing flight and railway schedules off gear.
At least 178 departures and 69 arrivals were delayed at the IGI Airport, according to FlightRadar24 data at 10:30.
A Delhi-bound Air India Express flight from Goa had to be diverted to Ahmedabad because of poor visibility, ANI reported.
The flight took off from Goa’s Mopa Airport at 11.55 pm on Sunday and was scheduled to land at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport Terminal 1 at 2.35 am on Monday. However, the flight was diverted to Ahmedabad.
The flight was not diverted to Jaipur because the airport there is already congested, the news agency reported. Several flights have already been diverted to Jaipur.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for very dense fog on Monday, with maximum and minimum temperatures expected to hover around 22°C and 7°C, respectively.
Delhi’s IGI Airport issued an advisory stating that flight operations were being conducted under CAT III instrument landing system conditions due to poor visibility, cautioning passengers about possible
delays and cancellations.
“Flight operations are currently being conducted under CAT III conditions due to dense fog, which may result in delays and cancellations. Our ground teams are actively assisting passengers to ensure smooth travel. We sincerely regret for any inconvenience caused,” the airport said in a passenger advisory.
As weather forecasts indicated dense fog with low visibility in parts of northern India, including Delhi, on Monday morning, it was likely to affect flight operations, Air India informed passengers.
It had taken proactive measures to minimise disruption and assured passengers that ground teams would provide all necessary assistance in case of delays, diversions or cancellations, the airline said.
Air India highlighted its ‘FogCare’ initiative, under which passengers booked on select flights during the fog window receive advance alerts on their registered mobile numbers, along with the option to reschedule their journey without additional charges or seek a full refund without penalty.
Passengers were advised by the airline to check their flight status before leaving for the airport and to allow extra time for travel, as winter fog conditions often intensify during early morning hours.
IndiGo also issued a travel advisory on Monday, stating that Delhi and Hindon airports were enveloped in winter fog, with fluctuating visibility affecting flight schedules.
The airline said operations may be slower than usual as conditions evolve, adding that ground teams were prioritising safety and strict compliance with visibility requirements.