Amid dense fog and low visibility conditions blanketing Delhi and various parts of northern India, major airlines such as Air India, SpiceJet, and IndiGo issued travel advisories on Friday, alerting passengers to potential flight disruptions. The Delhi airport similarly issued a warning, recommending that travellers verify their flight status prior to departing for the airport.
Air India, in a statement released on Thursday, noted that the meteorological department had forecasted dense fog in Delhi as well as portions of northern and eastern India for Friday, which could adversely affect flight schedules. The airline further indicated that such dense fog might lead to ripple effects throughout its entire flight network.
Posting the advisory on its X account, Air India stated that it had implemented proactive steps to reduce disruptions to the greatest extent possible.
The carrier also reassured travellers that, should unforeseen delays or cancellations occur, its ground staff would provide assistance and arrange suitable alternatives.
Under a programme initiated by the airline, passengers holding bookings on specific flights anticipated to be impacted would receive prior notifications, according to the advisory. These travellers would then have the choice to reschedule their flight at no additional cost or obtain a complete refund for their ticket.
The airlines urged passengers to confirm their flight status before proceeding to the airport.
In a related development, IndiGo Airlines issued a comparable advisory early Friday morning, referencing morning fog prevalent across northern India. “Customers travelling in the early hours may experience delays or revised timings,” the airline stated. IndiGo added that it was closely monitoring weather developments and collaborating with air traffic control authorities to limit passenger inconvenience.
Also Read: IndiGo issues fog advisory for north India flight disruptions
SpiceJet, likewise, shared a weather alert on its X account, indicating that low visibility in Delhi could impact all departures and arrivals, along with any subsequent connecting flights.
On Thursday, the Delhi Airport announced that CAT III operations had commenced due to the dense fog, leading to delays and operational disruptions. CAT III protocols enable aircraft to perform landings safely even in conditions of very low visibility.
The airport noted that its on-ground teams were coordinating closely with all relevant parties to support affected passengers.
Earlier that Thursday, visibility levels plummeted across the Delhi-NCR region, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reporting readings as low as 100 metres around 6:00 am. At least 27 flights were cancelled, while operations for over 500 additional flights experienced delays, as confirmed by officials speaking to media persons.
Also Read: Dense smog, 'severe' AQI hit Delhi; Flight operations affected
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