As many as 148 flights were cancelled at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) on Wednesday, December 31, amid operational disruptions, sources said. According to the information available, the total cancellations included 70 departing flights and 78 arriving flights. In addition, two flights were diverted.

Delhi Airport visibility (at 8.30 AM)

General Visibility - 250 M

Runways’ visibility between 600 to 1000m
 

Dense fog coupled with hazardous air quality continued to pose serious challenges for residents of the National Capital Region (NCR) on Sunday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a yellow alert for Delhi, noting that fog conditions were denser than the previous day, leading to reduced visibility across several areas.

Low visibility due to dense fog continued to affect operations at a few airports across northern India on Sunday, potentially leading to flight delays. Passengers have been advised to check real-time flight updates directly with their respective airlines and reach airports earlier than usual to avoid inconvenience.

IndiGo on Wednesday issued a travel advisory warning passengers of possible flight disruptions due to dense fog affecting Delhi and several airports across northern India, as low visibility conditions persisted through the morning hours.

The airline said departures and arrivals could be impacted as the day progresses if foggy conditions continue. IndiGo added that it is closely monitoring the situation and making operational adjustments where required to minimise disruption.

Delhi Airport issues a passenger advisory in view of the existing fog conditions.

Thick fog covered several areas of Delhi-NCR on Wednesday morning, reducing visibility and affecting daily movement. Visuals from Ghaziabad’s Indirapuram showed roads shrouded in dense mist as cold winter conditions persisted.

An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered 'good', 51 to 100 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 'moderate', 201 to 300 'poor', 301 to 400 'very poor', and 401 to 500 'severe'.

Chilly weather and fog continue to impact flight operations at Hindon Airport this morning, causing schedule changes and slower departures. Passengers are advised to check flight status before heading to the airport and opt for rebooking or refunds if affected. Safety remains the top priority as visibility fluctuates across Delhi-NCR.

Air India on Tuesday night issued a travel advisory as dense fog and low visibility are forecast across Delhi and northern India, warning of possible flight disruptions and cascading delays. The airline said it has taken proactive steps, including advance cancellation of select morning flights likely to be affected, with passengers informed beforehand to avoid long and uncertain waits at airports. 

Dense fog enveloped several parts of Noida on Wednesday, significantly reducing visibility and disrupting normal life across the city. Early morning commuters faced slow-moving traffic on major roads, while vehicles were seen using headlights and fog lights to navigate through the thick haze. 

Officials said pollution is likely to persist due to weak atmospheric conditions, citing a ventilation index below 6,000 sq m per second and low wind speeds under 10 kmph, which are insufficient to disperse pollutants.

The Air Quality Early Warning System warned that pollution levels are expected to worsen to the ‘severe’ category on December 31 and January 1, before easing back to ‘very poor’ on January 2. Air quality is then forecast to stay in the ‘very poor’ range for the next six days.

Dense fog reduced visibility across Delhi-NCR early on Wednesday, with the IMD forecasting continued foggy conditions in parts of the region. The national capital's air quality improved marginally to the 'very poor' category on Tuesday. Delhi recorded a 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 388, down from 401 on Monday, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.