India
oi-Prakash KL
Thick
winter
fog
combined
with
hazardous
air
quality
brought
significant
disruption
to
travel
across
North
and
East
India
on
Tuesday
night
and
Wednesday
morning,
prompting
airlines
and
airports
to
issue
urgent
advisories.
IndiGo,
India’s
largest
airline,
released
a
statement
cautioning
passengers
about
reduced
visibility
and
slower
flight
operations
in
the
early
hours.
The
advisory,
shared
on
X,
noted
that
“misty
winter
skies” were
expected
to
blanket
several
regions,
leading
to
delays
and
adjustments
in
schedules.
The
airline
emphasized
that
safety
remained
its
top
priority,
with
teams
across
airports
coordinating
closely
to
manage
operations
and
assist
travellers.
Dense
winter
fog
and
hazardous
air
quality
caused
significant
travel
disruptions
in
North
and
East
India,
leading
IndiGo
and
Delhi’s
IGI
Airport
to
issue
advisories
and
manage
delays.
The
Air
Quality
Index
(AQI)
in
Delhi
reached
378,
exacerbating
the
impact
on
air
and
road
traffic.
Passengers
were
urged
to
plan
ahead,
allow
extra
time
for
their
journey
to
the
airport,
and
check
real‑time
flight
status
updates
on
IndiGo’s
website
or
mobile
app.
The
airline
also
warned
that
foggy
conditions
could
affect
road
traffic,
resulting
in
slower
commutes
and
longer
travel
times.
“We
appreciate
your
patience
and
continued
trust
as
we
work
steadily
through
the
early
hours,
with
visibility
expected
to
improve
as
the
day
progresses,”
IndiGo
said
in
its
post.
The
advisory
came
as
Indira
Gandhi
International
(IGI)
Airport
in
Delhi
issued
its
own
warning
earlier
on
Tuesday
morning.
Around
6:00
am,
the
airport
reported
that
flight
operations
were
“steadily
recovering”
but
cautioned
that
disruptions
could
persist
for
certain
departures
and
arrivals.
Airport
authorities
advised
passengers
to
remain
in
touch
with
their
airlines
for
the
latest
updates
and
assured
that
ground
staff
had
been
deployed
across
terminals
to
provide
assistance.
“We
appreciate
your
cooperation
and
understanding,”
the
airport
added.
The
situation
was
further
complicated
by
deteriorating
air
quality
in
the
national
capital.
According
to
data
from
the
Central
Pollution
Control
Board,
Delhi’s
overall
Air
Quality
Index
(AQI)
stood
at
378
at
8
am
on
Tuesday,
placing
it
in
the
“very
poor”
category.
Dense
fog
combined
with
high
pollution
levels
significantly
reduced
visibility,
intensifying
challenges
for
both
air
and
road
traffic.
Travellers
across
the
region
faced
delays,
longer
commutes,
and
uncertainty
as
authorities
worked
to
manage
the
impact
of
the
weather.
Airlines
reiterated
that
while
schedules
may
be
adjusted,
safety
remained
paramount.
Both
IndiGo
and
Delhi
Airport
highlighted
their
commitment
to
assisting
passengers
and
maintaining
smooth
operations
despite
the
difficult
conditions.
As
the
day
progressed,
visibility
was
expected
to
improve
gradually,
offering
some
relief
to
travellers.
However,
with
winter
fog
a
recurring
challenge
in
northern
India,
passengers
were
reminded
to
remain
vigilant,
plan
journeys
with
buffer
time,
and
rely
on
official
airline
and
airport
channels
for
timely
updates.
