Visibility Zero: 118 Flights Cancelled at Delhi Airport Today

Winter’s grip on the national capital tightened dramatically on Tuesday, throwing India’s aviation network into disarray. On December 30, 2025, dense fog blanketed Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, forcing the cancellation of at least 118 flights (60 arrivals and 58 departures) and delaying over 200 others. As visibility plunged to near-zero levels during the morning peak hours, thousands of passengers were left stranded, prompting the Ministry of Civil Aviation to step in with urgent directives demanding airlines provide meals, refunds, and rebooking support.

The Context (How We Got Here)

This is not a one-day anomaly; it is the peak of a grueling "fog season." The disruptions began on December 28, with severe fog reducing visibility to between 50 and 125 meters. By Tuesday morning, visibility at the Palam observatory hovered dangerously low (100–350 meters), triggering a Yellow Alert from the IMD. While IGI Airport activated its CAT III-B low-visibility procedures—technically allowing landings in visibility as low as 50 meters—operations were crippled because many scheduled aircraft or pilots were not certified for these conditions. This mismatch turned a weather event into an operational meltdown.

The Key Players (Who & So What)

• DIAL (Delhi International Airport Ltd): The operator issued advisories warning that "flights that are not CAT III compliant may be affected," essentially placing the onus on airlines to be weather-ready.
• Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA): Moving into damage control, the Ministry directed all airlines to strictly adhere to passenger facilitation norms. This includes mandatory communication of delays, provision of food during long waits, and immediate refunds for cancellations to prevent terminal chaos.
• The Passengers: Caught between "Very Poor" air quality (AQI ~388) and cancelled flights, travelers faced a double whammy of health risks and logistical nightmares just ahead of New Year's Eve.

The BIGSTORY Reframe

While mainstream coverage focuses on the "weather," the deeper story is the "Compliance Gap." If Delhi Airport has world-class CAT III-B runways, why were 118 flights cancelled? The answer lies in the uneven modernization of Indian aviation. The disruption exposes that a significant percentage of the domestic fleet or flight crew roster remains non-CAT III compliant. The fog didn't just block the runway; it filtered out the airlines that haven't invested enough in advanced instrument landing capabilities.

Furthermore, this is a "Toxic Cocktail" Crisis. The fog is trapping pollutants, creating a smog chamber at the airport. With an AQI nearing 400, passengers stranded on the tarmac or curbside are not just losing time; they are being exposed to hazardous air for hours. This is a public health failure disguised as a travel delay.

The Implications (Why This Changes Things)

The sheer scale of cancellations (approx. 9% of daily traffic) will cause a cascading "network effect" across India for the next 48 hours. Flights from Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata will face consequential delays as aircraft stuck in Delhi miss their rotation slots. For the government, this is a litmus test for its "Passenger Charter"—if airlines fail to provide the mandated meals and refunds during this mass disruption, it will expose the regulations as toothless.

The Closing Question (Now, Think About This)

If the world’s third-largest aviation market cripples every time winter arrives, is the industry growing faster than its ability to see through the fog?

FAQs

Why were 118 flights cancelled at Delhi airport today? On December 30, 2025, dense fog reduced visibility to 50-100 meters at IGI Airport. While the runways are CAT III equipped, 118 flights were cancelled largely because the specific aircraft or pilots operating those routes were not CAT III compliant (certified to land in such low visibility).

What is CAT III and why are some flights still getting cancelled in fog? CAT III (Category III) is an instrument landing system that allows aircraft to land in very low visibility. However, for it to work, three things must align: the airport runway must be equipped, the aircraft must have the technology, and the pilot must be specially trained. If an airline sends a non-compliant plane or pilot, they cannot land even if the airport is open.

What are my passenger rights if my flight is cancelled or delayed due to fog in India? According to DGCA norms reiterated by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, airlines must provide timely updates. For long delays (usually 2-4+ hours depending on flight duration), they must provide meals/refreshments. If a flight is cancelled, passengers are entitled to a full refund or an alternative flight rebooking at no extra cost.

Sources

News Coverage

• Hindustan Times – Delhi airport hit by dense fog again; 118 flights cancelled
• Economic Times – MoCA issues advisory as fog disrupts ops
• Business Today – Fog disruptions: 118 flights cancelled, many redirected

Context & Advisories

• The Federal – Delhi fog flights cancelled Tuesday December 30
• VisaHQ – Dense fog paralyzes air traffic across North India