Delhi Airport Meltdown: Fog Cancels 40 Flights, Strands Thousands
The winter fog is officially here, and it’s a nightmare for air travel. As a thick, heavy blanket of fog enveloped the National Capital Region this Monday, the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport immediately went into crisis mode.
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The official tally from Delhi Airport is grim: 40 flights cancelled and 4 others diverted so far due to dangerously low visibility.
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The Airline Impact
Let’s be real, the cancellations are mostly hitting the major domestic carriers.
IndiGo: India’s largest airline cancelled 36 flights out of Delhi alone.
Air India: The Tata-owned carrier proactively cancelled 19 flights. Air India made it clear the decision was made to avoid “prolonged uncertainty for guests” and prioritize safety.
The thing is, IndiGo, Air India, and SpiceJet all issued urgent warnings: expect major delays and further cancellations across all North Indian airports.
The CAT III Factor
Airport operations are continuing, but only under highly restricted rules known as CAT III operations.
CAT III refers to an advanced system that allows planes equipped with specific technology to land safely in very low visibility conditions, like dense fog.
The Kicker: Any flight or crew not certified for CAT III operations is automatically affected. This means only a limited number of planes can land and take off, bottlenecking the entire system.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has issued a “Heavy Fog Alert” for all of North India. X happened (The Ministry warned travellers). And then Y followed (They advised passengers to check their flight status with their airline or on the airport website before leaving for the airport, and to allow extra road travel time).
On-ground officials are working tirelessly, but this is an ongoing operational struggle, and there will be no tidy wrap-up anytime soon.
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Disclaimer: This information is based on official statements from the Delhi Airport, the Ministry of Civil Aviation, IndiGo, and Air India regarding flight disruptions on December 15, 2025.
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