India's Civil Aviation Ministry mandates strict passenger support during fog delays.

December 20, 2025 at 05:04 AM•2 min read

Indian aviation authorities mandate that airlines enhance passenger support, including meals and refunds, during flight delays caused by dense winter fog.

Key Points

1MoCA mandates that Indian airlines provide meals for domestic flight delays exceeding two hours and arrange hotel accommodation for overnight disruptions.
2Airlines must offer full refunds or alternate flights without extra cost for cancellations communicated less than the stipulated period before departure.
3The Indian DGCA must ensure strict implementation of rules regarding timely passenger updates, denied boarding compensation, and assistance for disabled travelers.
4Major carriers, including IndiGo and Air India, have issued travel alerts warning passengers of potential disruptions at key North Indian airports due to dense winter fog.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) in India issued a comprehensive advisory on December 19, directing all scheduled airlines to strictly adhere to passenger facilitation norms amidst severe operational disruptions caused by dense fog and low-visibility conditions across northern India. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been tasked with ensuring the uniform and rigorous implementation of these existing regulations, emphasizing the need for continuous, accurate, and advance communication regarding delays, rescheduling, and cancellations across all communication channels.

Key stipulations reinforce obligations for delays exceeding prescribed limits. For domestic flights delayed by two hours or more, airlines must provide refreshments or meals proportionate to the waiting time. If delays extend overnight, carriers are mandated to arrange hotel accommodation. Furthermore, in cases of flight cancellations communicated less than the stipulated period before departure, passengers must be offered a full refund or re-routing on an alternate flight at no additional cost. The advisory also explicitly prohibits denying boarding to passengers who have completed check-in within stipulated timelines, requiring compensation and confirmed alternate travel arrangements if denial occurs.

The MoCA also addressed several other critical areas of service, including making proper arrangements for passengers affected by diverted flights and ensuring timely onward movement. Compensation for lost, delayed, or damaged baggage must align with applicable norms, and claim processes must be clearly communicated. Special attention is directed towards assisting passengers with disabilities, ensuring priority boarding and the carriage of assistive devices, with denial of carriage permitted only on documented safety grounds. Following the advisory, major carriers, including IndiGo and Air India, have issued their own travel alerts cautioning passengers about potential disruptions at key northern airports like Delhi, Lucknow, and Patna.