Delhi airport latest update: 118 flights cancelled, 16 diverted due to fog

• Dense fog at Delhi airport caused 118 flight cancellations, 16 diversions Tuesday
• Passengers faced major delays as ground staff assisted at all terminals
• Delhi's air quality "very poor" with AQI 384 despite slight improvement.

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Flight operations at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) were thrown into disarray once more on Tuesday morning as a dense blanket of fog returned, severely impacting visibility and leading to the cancellation of 118 flights and 16 diversions.

The latest disruption underscores the volatile winter conditions facing the capital, coming just a day after the airport had resumed normal operations following a previous bout of severe fog. According to figures issued on Tuesday, 60 arriving and 58 departing flights were cancelled, with a further 16 aircraft diverted to other airports.

The airport operator, in an advisory issued at 8 am, moved to manage passenger concerns, stating: “Please be assured that our on-ground officials are available across terminals to assist passengers and provide necessary support.” Ground staff were deployed across all terminals to assist stranded travellers, though the scale of cancellations caused significant inconvenience.

Amid prevailing fog and low-visibility conditions impacting flights in parts of Northern India, passengers are advised to proactively check flight status, remain in contact with their airlines and allow extra travel time. Airlines have been instructed to strictly comply with…

— MoCA_GoI (@MoCA_GoI) December 30, 2025

The fog, which also blanketed adjoining areas including Noida, severely slowed road traffic. Major arteries like the Dwarka Expressway saw vehicles crawling with headlights on during the morning commute.

This fresh crisis follows Monday’s major disruption, where 128 flights were cancelled, and highlights the persistent challenge for aviation authorities. While the airport is equipped with CAT III Instrument Landing Systems for low-visibility landings, operations are severely constrained when visibility drops below the minimum thresholds for these systems.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation had previously instructed airlines to strictly comply with passenger facilitation norms, including providing timely information, meals for delays and rebooking or refunds for cancellations. Passengers affected by Tuesday’s cancellations are advised to contact their airlines directly for re-accommodation and updates.

While the immediate aviation crisis is weather-led, Delhi’s environmental conditions remain a serious concern. The city’s air quality, though slightly improved from Monday’s “severe” category, was still in the “very poor” range with an AQI of 384 on Tuesday morning, as per SAFAR. Several monitoring stations, including Anand Vihar and Rohini, continued to record “severe” levels above 400.

The repeated disruptions this week signal a difficult period ahead for winter travel through Northern India. Passengers are strongly advised to check their flight status directly with their airline before heading to the airport and to allow for considerable extra travel time amid the ongoing weather uncertainty.