Why Dense Fog Grounded Air India Express, Malaysia Airlines Flights at Amritsar

December 30, 2025 at 11:10 PM•2 min read

Dense fog at Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport (ATQ) caused multiple cancellations, including Air India Express and Malaysia Airlines services, due to low visibility.

Key Points

1Three international and domestic flights, including Air India Express IX-320 and Malaysia Airlines MH-148/149, were cancelled due to dense fog at Amritsar Airport (ATQ).
2Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport is equipped with CAT III-B ILS for landings, but stricter DGCA regulations for take-offs and near-zero visibility conditions forced the disruptions.
3Disruptions at Delhi Airport caused a cascading effect, impacting flight connectivity and contributing to the delays and cancellations at Amritsar.
4Airlines advise passengers to check flight status and utilize 'Fog Care' options to manage travel during the DGCA-designated winter fog window (December 10 to February 10).

Dense fog severely disrupted commercial aviation operations. This occurred at Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport (ATQ) in Amritsar. The disruption happened late last night and continued into the early morning.

Multiple international and domestic flights were impacted. This included significant delays and outright cancellations.

Key Flight Cancellations

Poor visibility forced several major flight cancellations. The affected services included both international and domestic routes.

Air India Express flight IX-320 from Dubai was cancelled. Its scheduled arrival was 1 am.
Malaysia Airlines flight MH-148 from Kuala Lumpur was also cancelled. The return flight, MH-149 to Kuala Lumpur, was cancelled as well.
An Air India A321 flight from Delhi to Amritsar did not operate. This highlights the cascading network effect of the fog.

At least five other flights arrived with significant delays. This was due to poor visibility and operational constraints.

Low Visibility Operations and Regulatory Context

This disruption is common during the northern India winter fog season. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) officially designates this period. The fog window runs from December 10 to February 10.

Amritsar Airport is equipped for low-visibility operations. It utilizes the advanced CAT III-B Instrument Landing System (ILS).

This system permits aircraft to land with a Runway Visual Range (RVR) as low as 50 meters.

However, take-off procedures are much stricter. The DGCA generally bars take-offs when visibility falls below 125 meters.

Zero-visibility conditions can render the CAT III-B system ineffective. This forces cancellations or diversions for safety.

Network Impact and Passenger Advice

Dense fog at major hubs like Delhi Airport (DEL) compounds the issue. Disruptions there cause large-scale cancellations and diversions. This affects connectivity across numerous cities, including Amritsar.

Airport officials noted that operational normalization takes time. Delays can persist even after local weather improves. This is due to aircraft availability and crew constraints.

Airlines are implementing passenger facilitation measures. Air India, for example, offers a “Fog Care” initiative. This allows passengers to reschedule or cancel affected flights without penalty.

Passengers are strongly advised to check their flight status. They should use official airline apps and SMS alerts. This should be done before traveling to the airport to avoid inconvenience. For more on this and other commercial aviation news, visit flying.flights.

Airport authorities are continuously monitoring visibility. Efforts are underway to normalize operations safely.