Dense Fog Disrupts Delhi Airport Ops; 118 Flights Cancelled, 16 Diverted

New Delhi, Dec 30: Dense fog disrupted flight operations at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) on Tuesday, leading to the cancellation of 118 flights, diversion of 16 services and delays to around 130 flights, officials said.

According to authorities, 60 arriving and 58 departing flights were cancelled, while 16 aircraft were diverted due to poor visibility. Data from flight tracking website Flightradar24 showed that about 130 flights were delayed during the morning hours, with average departure delays of around 28 minutes.

Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), which operates IGIA and handles nearly 1,300 flights daily, said in a post on X that operations were continuing, but flights not compliant with CAT III standards could be affected. CAT III compliance enables aircraft to operate safely in low-visibility conditions.

Meanwhile, the civil aviation ministry said airlines have been directed to strictly adhere to passenger facilitation norms amid foggy weather. The measures include timely flight information, provision of meals for delayed passengers, rebooking or refunds in case of cancellations, ensuring no denial of boarding after timely check-in, baggage assistance and prompt grievance redressal. (Agencies)