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Mon, Jan 19, 2026 | Rajab 30, 1447 | Fajr 05:45 | DXB 
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Some Indigo flights cancelled, delayed as dense fog hits Delhi and north India airports
Affected passengers are being informed via WhatsApp and email, with options to rebook or seek refunds, the airline said in a statement posted on X
Dense fog has disrupted flight operations at Delhi and several airports across northern India, prompting delays, changes to schedules, and even cancellations, Indigo said on Monday (December 15).
"Prolonged low visibility during the morning hours has impacted air traffic movement, and as a result, some flights have been cancelled to ensure safe and compliant operations through the rest of the day," Indigo, one of India's leading budget carriers, said in a statement posted on X.
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Affected passengers are being informed via WhatsApp and email, with options to rebook or seek refunds.
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"We understand how weather-related disruptions can affect your travel plans, especially during busy periods, and we sincerely regret the inconvenience caused," the airline added.
The airline also requested passengers to stay updated on their flight status via our website or app. "Thank you for your patience and understanding. Our teams continue to closely monitor visibility conditions and will progressively restore normal operations as soon as it is safe to do so."
While fog is a natural meteorological phenomenon, poor air quality can increase the frequency, density, and duration of fog events, turning it into harmful smog.
India has recently tightened anti-pollution measures in Delhi and adjoining areas after the capital's air quality deteriorated to the season's worst.
The Commission for Air Quality Management invoked stage four, the highest level, of the Graded Response Action Plan for Delhi and surrounding areas on Saturday evening, according to an advisory by India's environment ministry.
On December 14, Delhi's air quality was "severe" with official index readings over 450 across several monitoring stations, up from 430 on Saturday and the highest so far this winter season, Central Pollution Control Board data showed. Readings below 50 are "good".
The curbs ban the entry of older diesel trucks, suspend construction, including on public projects, and impose hybrid schooling.
The area, home to 30 million people, is often covered in smog during winter, as cold, dense air traps emissions from vehicles, construction sites and crop burning in neighbouring states, pushing pollution levels to among the highest in the world and exposing residents to severe respiratory risks.
The authorities urged residents to stay indoors, especially children and those with respiratory or cardiac ailments, and to consider masks if stepping out.
The worsening of the air quality was driven by high moisture and a shift in wind direction, conditions that hinder dispersion of pollutants and foster smog formation, according to the Commission for Air Quality Management.
(Inputs from Reuters)
Elizabeth Gonzales
Elizabeth Gonzales is a Digital Journalist who loves writing about the expat life — and ways to make the most of it. When she's not looking for new hacks to share with readers, you may find her giving them a real laugh at one of her stand-up comic events.
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