Thick winter fog once again hit flight operations in Delhi and parts of northern India, prompting major airlines including IndiGo, Air India and Delhi Airport to issue advisories for passengers on Sunday, January 18. With visibility dropping sharply in the early hours, airlines warned travellers of possible delays and urged them to stay updated.

IndiGo alerted passengers that foggy conditions could affect flights to and from Delhi and Hindon. “Low visibility and fog over #Delhi and #Hindon (Airport) may impact flight schedules. We are closely monitoring the weather and doing our best to get you where you need to be, safely and smoothly,” the airline said in its advisory.

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“We request that you stay updated on your flight status via our website or app. Please be assured that our teams are here to assist you at every step and provide full support,” it added.

Air India issues advisory for northern India

Air India also issued an advisory on late Saturday night cautioning that dense fog in northern India could have a ripple effect on its network-wide operations.

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“Reduced visibility due to dense fog is forecast in parts of Northern India, including Delhi, tomorrow morning. These conditions may have a cascading impact on flight schedules across our network, the airline said. 

What Delhi airport said

Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport issued an advisory at 6 am on January 18 and confirmed that low visibility procedures have been activated but said operations remain normal at the moment. “Low Visibility Procedures are in progress at Delhi Airport. All flight operations are presently normal. Passengers are requested to contact the airline concerned for updated flight information,” it said.

As fog continues to blanket the region, authorities have advised travellers to keep a close watch on airline updates and plan extra time for their journey to the airport.

Additionally, the airport authorities said that all security arrangements for Republic Day are in place and urged “passengers to plan extra travel time for a smooth travel experience”. They also assured that the on-ground staff will keep a close watch and help passengers at all terminals.

Delhi Airport’s flight operations will be affected as one of its main runways, 11R/29L, will be closed from mid-February to June for major upgrades. The work includes improving the Instrument Landing System (ILS) to CAT III-B standards and adding a new rapid exit taxiway (RET). This closure has been planned with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and other agencies to reduce disruptions. Since the airport has four runways, flights will be handled using the remaining three, according to a report by DNA.

Delhi weather today

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for January 18 as Delhi and the NCR prepare for another cold and foggy day. The forecast says Sunday will have a partly cloudy sky, with fog in the morning that will clear up later.

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Moderate to dense fog is expected in areas like North West Delhi, West Delhi, South Delhi, and NCR cities such as Faridabad, Gurugram, Noida, and Ghaziabad, which may affect visibility and daily travel. People are advised to be careful, especially during morning hours.