Heavy fog has thrown travel plans into disarray at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, forcing the cancellation of more than 100 flights and leaving thousands of passengers stranded during one of the busiest travel periods.
Travel Chaos Grips India's Capital
A dense blanket of fog descended upon northern India, severely reducing visibility to near-zero levels and making flight operations extremely hazardous. The adverse weather conditions have created unprecedented disruption at one of Asia's busiest aviation hubs.
Mass Cancellations and Growing Delays
Airport authorities were compelled to implement widespread cancellations as the fog persisted throughout the day. Both domestic and international services have been affected, with delays stretching for hours and passenger frustration mounting in terminal buildings.
Key impacts include:
- Over 100 flight cancellations confirmed
- Significant delays affecting numerous additional services
- Both domestic and international routes disrupted
- Thousands of passengers facing extended waits
Passenger Experience: Frustration and Uncertainty
Terminals have become crowded with frustrated travellers, many of whom face uncertain wait times as airlines struggle to manage the backlog. The timing couldn't be worse, coinciding with a peak travel period that sees increased passenger numbers.
Airline Response and Contingency Measures
Major carriers operating through Delhi have activated emergency protocols, offering affected passengers the option to reschedule or receive refunds. However, the sheer scale of disruption has overwhelmed standard contingency measures.
"The safety of passengers and crew remains our utmost priority," stated an airport spokesperson. "While we understand the inconvenience caused, these measures are necessary given the current weather conditions."
Weather Outlook and Recovery Timeline
Meteorological departments indicate that the fog conditions may persist, potentially extending the disruption into subsequent days. Travellers are being urged to contact their airlines directly for the latest updates before heading to the airport.
The aviation industry now faces the challenging task of clearing the substantial backlog of affected passengers once weather conditions improve, a process that could take several days to normalise completely.
