Archive · 1 Jan 2026
Dense Fog Disrupts Flights, Worsens Air Quality in Delhi
On Tuesday and Thursday, thick fog covered Delhi and other parts of North and East India.
This fog made it hard for planes to take off and land, so many flights were cancelled, delayed, or sent to different airports.
The fog also made the air quality very bad, which can make people sick.
Airlines like Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet told passengers to check for updates and offered help to reschedule or get refunds.
The fog was so thick that visibility was very low, but it got a bit better later in the day.
The air quality was also very poor, with some places having 'severe' pollution levels.
People had to be careful and plan extra time for their travels because of these problems.
Dense fog disrupted flight operations at multiple airports in North and East India, including Delhi, Ranchi, Bhubaneswar, and Guwahati.
At Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, 118 flights were cancelled, 16 diverted, and 130 delayed due to low visibility.
Visibility at Safdarjung was 50 metres at 6:30 am and improved to 200 metres by 8:30 am, while at Palam it was 50 metres at 6:30 am and 300 metres at 8:30 am.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi ranged from 372 to 388, categorized as 'very poor' to 'severe', with some areas like Anand Vihar reaching an AQI of 452.
Airlines issued advisories and implemented initiatives like 'FogCare' to assist passengers with rescheduling or refunds due to the disruptions.
- Who
- Passengers, airline staff, and officials at multiple airports in North and East India
- What
- Dense fog disrupted flight operations and worsened air quality
- When
- Tuesday and Thursday mornings
- Where
- Delhi and other parts of North and East India
- Why
- Low visibility due to dense fog and high pollution levels
Airlines
Passengers
Flight Disruptions
Airlines
Airlines issued advisories and implemented initiatives like 'FogCare' to assist passengers with rescheduling or refunds.
Passengers
Passengers experienced significant inconvenience due to flight cancellations, diversions, and delays.
- Flights Cancelled
- 118
- Flights Diverted
- 16
- Flights Delayed
- 130
- Average Delay Time
- 28 minutes
- Visibility at Safdarjung
- 50 metres at 6:30 am, 100 metres at 7:30 am, 200 metres at 8:30 am
- Visibility at Palam
- 50 metres at 6:30 am, 300 metres at 8:30 am
- Air Quality Index (AQI)
- 372-388 (Very Poor to Severe)
- Affected Airports
- Delhi, Ranchi, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, Ayodhya, Dharamshala, Lucknow
Sources
‘Amritsari Kulche Khana Si’: IndiGo Air Hostess’ Punjabi Banter As Flight Diverted To Delhi Amid Dense Fog | Video
Fog disrupts Delhi airport ops; 118 flights cancelled
New Year Travel Alert! Air India issues advisory for passengers amid forecast for low visibility
Delhi weather: New Year starts with 'very poor' AQI, IMD forecasts fog and light rain; flights likely to be disrupted
Dense fog disrupts flights across North India; airlines issue advisory
Dense fog blankets Delhi, AQI 'very poor'
Flight service affected at Bhubaneswar airport due to dense fog
