Low visibility conditions continued to disrupt air travel across Delhi-NCR on Wednesday (24 December), prompting an advisory from the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) as fog, haze and hazardous air quality affected the national capital.
Airport authorities said low visibility procedures remain in force, while passengers have been advised to check flight status before heading to the airport amid the risk of delays and cancellations.
The situation follows significant disruption a day earlier, when at least 10 flights were cancelled and more than 270 were delayed on Tuesday due to dense fog and reduced visibility.
“Visibility at the airport is improving; however, flight departures for certain destinations may experience delay,” Delhi airport operator DIAL said in a post on X.
Adding to the disruption, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 325 on Wednesday, placing it in the hazardous category. The dominant pollutant was PM2.5, followed by PM10.
According to pollution data, PM10 levels were recorded at 253.67 and PM2.5 at 357.08, with nitrogen dioxide (NO2) at 67.24, sulphur dioxide (SO2) at 19.62, ozone (O3) at 15.1 and carbon monoxide (CO) at 65.16.
Health experts advise that when AQI crosses 100, sensitive groups such as children, the elderly and those with respiratory conditions should limit outdoor exposure. When air quality is “poor” or worse, residents are advised to reduce outdoor activity and wear masks when stepping outside.
Passengers travelling via Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi can track real-time flight updates directly through the airport’s official website.
The portal provides live updates on flight status, terminal and gate numbers, and both scheduled and estimated arrival or departure times.
During extreme weather events, airport authorities recommend checking directly with airlines for the most accurate information.
Passengers flying with IndiGo can track flight status through multiple official channels.
Third-party platforms such as Ixigo, Cleartrip or Yatra
Passengers are advised to check flight status before leaving for the airport.
Ixigo, using your 10-digit PNR number
Passengers flying with SpiceJet can track flight updates through official and alternative channels.
Search by flight number and date, or by route
On Tuesday (23 December), Delhi woke up to extremely poor air quality as thick fog and haze enveloped the city. AQI crossed 400 — the “severe” category — at 27 monitoring stations, with several others entering the “severe plus” range.
That morning, more than 280 flights were affected at Delhi airport, including six arrivals and four departures that were cancelled. Over 270 flights were delayed, with average departure delays of around 29 minutes, according to data from Flightradar24.
With winter fog expected to persist over the coming days, passengers travelling through Delhi-NCR are advised to monitor flight updates closely, allow additional travel time, and remain in contact with their airlines for the latest information.
Curated by Emma Watson
