Delhi Airport delays 200+ flights as dense fog causes persistent operational

December 16, 2025 at 05:19 AM•2 min read

Delhi Airport reported over 200 flight delays Tuesday morning due to dense fog, prompting airlines to warn of persistent disruption.

Key Points

1Over 200 flights were delayed at Delhi Airport (DEL) on Tuesday morning due to dense fog and severely reduced visibility.
2The disruption followed Monday's severe operational impact, which recorded over 800 delays and more than 220 flight cancellations.
3Air India implemented its "Fog Care programme," proactively cancelling select Wednesday flights and offering passengers complimentary rescheduling or full refunds.
4Delhi's air quality remained critical, marginally improving from "severe plus" (450+ AQI) to "very poor" (376 AQI) on Tuesday morning.

Dense fog and severely reduced visibility caused major operational disruption at Delhi Airport (DEL) on Tuesday, resulting in over 200 flight delays. This followed a catastrophic Monday, which saw more than 800 delays, 220 cancellations, and five diversions. Airport authorities warned passengers that while operations were recovering, disruptions for both arrivals and departures are likely to persist as the region battles adverse weather conditions.

Major carriers, including Air India and IndiGo, issued advisories urging passengers to check flight status before traveling. Air India confirmed that the dense fog enveloping northern India had created network-wide congestion and schedule challenges. In response, Air India activated its "Fog Care programme," proactively cancelling select flights scheduled for Wednesday and offering complimentary rebooking or full refunds without penalty to minimize passenger inconvenience. IndiGo also stated it was closely monitoring conditions and making thoughtful adjustments on the ground.

The aviation disruption coincided with persistent, hazardous air quality in the National Capital Region (NCR). Although the average Air Quality Index (AQI) marginally improved on Tuesday morning from "severe plus" (450+ AQI) to "very poor" (376 AQI), pollution levels remain critical, exacerbated by low wind speeds. The NCR remains under Stage 4 restrictions of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), reflecting the severe environmental challenges contributing to the operational difficulties at DEL.