North India’s first major winter fog of 2026 blanketed Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in the early hours of 4 January, forcing ground holds, diversions and cancellations that rippled across domestic and international networks. Travel and Tour World counted at least 66 outright cancellations and dozens of diversions, while Hindustan Times pegged the number of delayed movements at over 170 by mid-morning.
Although IGIA’s CAT-III-equipped runways allow aircraft to land in visibility as low as 50 metres, many budget carriers operating older Airbus A320 aircraft are not certified for such minima. As a result, departures to hubs such as Mumbai, Dubai and Singapore were held on the apron, stranding business travellers and inbound expatriates returning from year-end holidays. Low-cost leader IndiGo warned passengers that “arrivals and departures remain on hold” and encouraged voluntary rebooking.
During such unforeseen disruptions, travellers reshuffling itineraries — especially those forced to route through third-country hubs — may suddenly need new transit or destination visas. VisaHQ’s India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) expedites these requirements with online applications, real-time status alerts and expert support, letting corporate mobility teams tackle flight changes without getting bogged down in paperwork.
![Thick fog paralyses Delhi airport: more than 60 flights cancelled and hundreds delayed]()
Air-cargo flows were also hit, with customs brokers reporting perishable consignments diverted to Hyderabad and Ahmedabad. Mobility managers moving household goods during the peak January transfer window should expect knock-on delays as belly-hold capacity tightens.
The India Meteorological Department issued a yellow fog alert through 6 January, predicting continued disruptions during the morning peak. Corporates are advising travellers to buffer at least four extra hours for check-in and to enrol in DigiYatra’s facial-biometric fast-track, which remains operational even when manual document checks are slowed by crowding.
For mobility teams the episode underscores the need for flexible tickets, traveller tracking and clear communication of alternative rail options on the busy Delhi–NCR corridor. Airlines must also update EU 261 style compensation policies for Europe-bound passengers whose duty-of-care entitlements may come into play when delays exceed three hours.
Although IGIA’s CAT-III-equipped runways allow aircraft to land in visibility as low as 50 metres, many budget carriers operating older Airbus A320 aircraft are not certified for such minima. As a result, departures to hubs such as Mumbai, Dubai and Singapore were held on the apron, stranding business travellers and inbound expatriates returning from year-end holidays. Low-cost leader IndiGo warned passengers that “arrivals and departures remain on hold” and encouraged voluntary rebooking.
During such unforeseen disruptions, travellers reshuffling itineraries — especially those forced to route through third-country hubs — may suddenly need new transit or destination visas. VisaHQ’s India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) expedites these requirements with online applications, real-time status alerts and expert support, letting corporate mobility teams tackle flight changes without getting bogged down in paperwork.
Air-cargo flows were also hit, with customs brokers reporting perishable consignments diverted to Hyderabad and Ahmedabad. Mobility managers moving household goods during the peak January transfer window should expect knock-on delays as belly-hold capacity tightens.
The India Meteorological Department issued a yellow fog alert through 6 January, predicting continued disruptions during the morning peak. Corporates are advising travellers to buffer at least four extra hours for check-in and to enrol in DigiYatra’s facial-biometric fast-track, which remains operational even when manual document checks are slowed by crowding.
For mobility teams the episode underscores the need for flexible tickets, traveller tracking and clear communication of alternative rail options on the busy Delhi–NCR corridor. Airlines must also update EU 261 style compensation policies for Europe-bound passengers whose duty-of-care entitlements may come into play when delays exceed three hours.
