‘Proactively check flight status’: Govt advisory to flyers, airlines as dense fog hits air travel

A thick blanket of dense fog that rolled over the national capital on Tuesday has thrown travel plans into disarray, with more than 100 flights affected at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport and across northern India.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has now issued an advisory telling airlines to closely follow passenger facilitation rules, especially for those dealing with long delays and cancellations.

Passengers were left scrambling for information as visibility plummeted early in the morning, sharply reducing how far pilots and ground staff could see. Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) reported that 118 flights were cancelled, 16 diverted, and about 130 more delayed due to the severe foggy conditions, making it difficult for aircraft without advanced landing systems to operate safely.

What the advisory says

In its advisory on Tuesday, the civil aviation ministry emphasised that passengers should “proactively check flight status, remain in contact with their airlines and allow extra travel time.” The government also instructed airlines to honour a range of passenger support measures.

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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

According to the advisory, airlines must ensure timely flight information, meals for delayed passengers, rebooking or refunds for cancelled flights, no denial of boarding if passengers check in on time, and assistance with baggage and grievance redressal.

The dense fog also contributed to poor visibility on roads and has been linked to travel disruptions beyond air travel, with trains and highway traffic facing delays. Weather agencies had forecast continued foggy conditions through the early winter months, a regular occurrence in the region that routinely tests both transportation systems and passenger patience.

Airlines like Air India have said they’re monitoring the situation closely and working with their staff on the ground to help passengers.