Delhi Airport Faces Major Flight Delays Amid Dense Fog and Poor Air Quality
Flight Disruptions at Delhi Airport
On Tuesday morning, over 200 flights were delayed at Delhi's airport due to heavy smog, as reported by local news sources.
The airport authorities indicated that while operations were gradually improving following a significant number of cancellations on Monday, some flight disruptions were still expected for both departures and arrivals.
On the previous day, the airport experienced more than 800 delays, along with over 220 cancellations and five diversions.
Passengers were advised to reach out to their airlines for the latest updates, with airport staff available across terminals to assist.
Air India noted that the dense fog affecting Delhi and surrounding northern regions had caused widespread flight disruptions, leading to increased congestion at the airport.
Many Air India flights faced delays or cancellations, which had a ripple effect on the airline's overall schedule.
The airline's team was actively helping passengers with rebooking or refunds for cancelled flights.
Furthermore, the India Meteorological Department has predicted continued fog conditions for Wednesday, with visibility expected to be significantly reduced in the morning.
In anticipation of this, Air India proactively cancelled certain flights scheduled for the following day and activated its Fog Care programme to notify affected passengers about complimentary rescheduling or refunds.
Travelers were encouraged to verify their flight status on the airline's website before heading to the airport.
#WATCH | Delhi | Drone visuals around Sarai Kale Khan area as a layer of smog engulfs the city; GRAP 4 restrictions enforced in the national capital
— News Media (@NewsMedia) December 16, 2025
(Drone visuals shot at 7:35 am ) pic.twitter.com/7Zu4vVOy8V
IndiGo also issued a similar advisory, stating that the airline was closely monitoring weather conditions and making necessary adjustments to minimize passenger inconvenience.
Slight Improvement in Air Quality
AQI Improves Slightly
On the same day, Delhi's air quality showed a slight improvement, moving from the 'severe plus' category to 'very poor'.
The average Air Quality Index (AQI) in the capital was recorded at 376 at 9:05 AM, according to the Sameer application, which provides hourly updates from the Central Pollution Control Board.
Out of the 40 monitoring stations in the city, eleven reported AQI levels exceeding 400.
Delhi's air quality had sharply declined in recent days, with the average AQI rising from 307 on Thursday to 461 by Sunday.
On Monday, the average AQI was noted at 427.
An AQI reading between 301 and 400 is classified as 'very poor', while levels between 401 and 450 are deemed 'severe', and anything above 450 is categorized as 'severe plus'.
Such high AQI levels indicate hazardous pollution that can pose serious health risks, even to healthy individuals.
The recent decline in air quality has been linked to unfavorable weather conditions, including low wind speeds caused by a western disturbance.
Delhi and the surrounding National Capital Region are currently under Stage 4 restrictions as part of the Graded Response Action Plan aimed at combating pollution, which were implemented on Saturday.
This marks the first instance this season where Stage 4 restrictions were enforced, triggered by the AQI surpassing the 450 threshold.
The restrictions include a ban on truck entry into the region, a suspension of construction activities, and a shift to hybrid learning for schools, excluding Classes 10 and 12.
In light of the high pollution levels, the Delhi government directed schools to transition to online classes for students up to Class 5.
Delhi-NCR has been experiencing poor air quality since mid-October, often ranking as one of the most polluted capitals globally, with factors such as stubble burning, vehicular emissions, and industrial pollution contributing to the crisis.