Dense fog disrupts flights and trains across India, passengers face long delays — Check latest advisory

Dense winter fog tightened its grip across large parts of northern and eastern India on Monday, disrupting air and rail travel and leaving thousands of passengers dealing with long delays, diversions and last-minute changes. Visibility dropped sharply at key airports, especially in Delhi, triggering low-visibility protocols and setting off a ripple effect across flight schedules nationwide, even as authorities warned that such disruptions are likely to continue through the peak fog season.

Delhi airport under CAT III operations

At Indira Gandhi International Airport, visibility fell to as low as 50 metres in the early hours, forcing the airport to operate under CAT III conditions, which allow aircraft to land in extremely low visibility but significantly slow down operations. Several inbound flights to Delhi were diverted due to poor visibility, congestion and cascading delays, adding to passenger inconvenience at alternative airports.

Airlines issue fresh advisories

Major airlines flagged possible disruptions across their networks. IndiGo said fluctuating visibility at Delhi, Hindon and Jammu was affecting flight schedules, with some services delayed and others cancelled depending on operational feasibility. Air India also warned that fog over North India, particularly around its Delhi hub, could have a knock-on impact on flights across the country. SpiceJet, in a late-night update, alerted passengers to disruptions in Kolkata due to poor visibility, urging travellers to keep track of real-time flight updates.

DGCA flags official fog window

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has already declared December 10 to February 10, 2026, as the official fog window for this winter season. The Airports Authority of India said passenger facilitation teams have been deployed at affected airports to assist travellers and manage ground operations during adverse weather.

Train services also affected

Dense fog did not spare rail travel. Several trains in Delhi and adjoining regions were delayed by hours, with passengers at New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin stations complaining of missed connections, disrupted plans and mounting inconvenience. Taxi drivers and station staff also reported reduced movement as trains ran late through the morning.