IndiGo Cancels 80 Flights As Dense Fog Hits Multiple Airports

Mumbai: IndiGo cancelled 80 flights across its domestic network on Monday as dense fog and poor visibility continued to disrupt air traffic, according to information available on the airline’s website. Around half of the cancellations were linked to Delhi, where flight operations have been severely affected by prolonged low-visibility conditions.

Apart from Delhi, flights to and from several major cities, including Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kochi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Dehradun, Indore, Patna and Bhopal, were also impacted. The cancellations added to travel disruptions faced by passengers during the ongoing winter fog season.

In a travel advisory issued at 11.20 am, IndiGo said foggy conditions persisted across Delhi and many airports in northern India, with visibility yet to improve fully. The airline warned that the impact on flight movements was likely to extend into the noon hours, leading to further delays. However, the advisory did not specify the exact number of flights cancelled.

IndiGo said departures and arrivals were being managed in a phased manner to ensure orderly operations and passenger safety. Despite this, disruptions have continued, with the airline cancelling flights frequently since the start of the fog season on December 10.

The airline had cancelled 67 flights on December 25 and another 57 flights on the previous Saturday due to adverse weather. Earlier this month, IndiGo had also cancelled a large number of flights after stricter duty and rest norms for pilots came into effect, leaving many passengers stranded at airports.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has declared the period from December 10 to February 10 as the official fog window for this winter. Under these conditions, flight operations often take place under Category III landing systems, which allow aircraft to land in very low visibility but require specially trained pilots and compatible aircraft.

"Due to persistent dense fog, flight operations continue to remain under CAT III conditions, which may result in flight delays. For the most up-to-date flight information, we request you to contact your respective airlines or visit our website," Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) said in the passenger advisory issued on Monday morning.