The Delhi airport flight status is shifting fast this morning, and travelers are getting caught in a wave of sudden changes as “very dense fog” clamps visibility down to near zero across the capital.
A severe cold wave and dense fog have enveloped Delhi-NCR and parts of northern India, triggering widespread disruptions at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) today, Saturday, December 20, 2025. Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet have issued urgent advisories warning passengers of delays, cancellations, and diversions.
For anyone tracking dense fog Delhi today, the disruption has been building since Friday. Over 177 flights were cancelled and nearly 500 were delayed due to low visibility and air traffic congestion, and the spillover is continuing into Saturday’s schedules.
The India Meteorological Department has issued IMD orange alert Delhi for December 20–21, forecasting “very dense fog” and warning visibility may drop below 200 meters, with the worst spells sinking far lower. Early Saturday, visibility fell to near zero in the region, turning morning travel into the most uncertain part of the day.
At IGIA, flight movements are operating under CAT III operations Delhi airport, the advanced instrument landing system used during extremely low visibility. Even then, restrictions tighten because not every aircraft and crew is CAT III compliant, and “zero visibility” conditions can still force pauses—especially for departures.
Airlines are urging passengers to keep checking the Delhi airport flight status before leaving for the terminal, because even small changes in visibility can trigger rapid rescheduling. Air India said that due to expected poor visibility, flight schedules may be affected and passengers can reschedule without extra cost as part of its Air India fog advisory messaging.
IndiGo said fluctuating visibility has led to revisions, highlighting the broader spread into nearby areas including Amritsar and Jalandhar, as IndiGo flight delays continue across the network. SpiceJet also warned that arrivals, departures, and consequential flights may be affected under its SpiceJet travel advisory.
The impact is extending beyond Delhi. Northern India airspace across Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh has been affected, and at least 19 flights were diverted early Saturday to Jaipur, Amritsar, and Lucknow—adding extra hours and uncertainty for passengers already dealing with missed connections.
Many travelers are now urgently searching flight cancellation refund options as they weigh whether to wait it out or rebook. Airlines say “Fog Care” style measures are active, including free date changes and, for affected services, refund options depending on the carrier policy and ticket rules.
Rail movement is also taking a hit. Indian Railways has reported over 80 trains running late, with some delays stretching up to 14 hours due to the same low-visibility conditions across the Northern Railway network.
Behind the fog, air quality is adding another layer of strain. Stagnant winds have trapped pollution, pushing Delhi AQI severe conditions to 383+ (“Very Poor”), worsening visibility and leaving the city feeling shut down and heavy through the morning.
The forecast timeline suggests dense fog will persist during morning hours through December 21–22, with conditions likely improving after noon. Until that improvement arrives, the IGI airport flight schedule may continue to see abrupt changes as visibility fluctuates.
For live updates and advisories, follow an official announcement, plus an industry report and an expert briefing. Another public safety update compiles airline advisories as the situation evolves.
For continuing developments, see our related news, full coverage here, and more updates in our latest reports.
