North India’s notorious winter fog returned with a vengeance on the morning of 3 February, shrouding Indira Gandhi International Airport in visibility as low as 100 metres. Delhi Airport’s official X handle warned travellers to ‘expect delays and check flight status frequently,’ pointing to a live update link. (indiatoday.in)
By 09:00 IST, more than 120 domestic departures and 34 international services were running late, according to FlightAware data. Category III-B instrument landing systems kept the runway open, but ramp operations slowed as ground staff battled poor line-of-sight.
![Dense fog in Delhi triggers widespread flight delays; airport issues real-time advisory]()
Business travellers on early-morning shuttles to Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad were hardest hit, with average delays of 70 minutes. Several wide-body arrivals from Europe were placed in holding patterns or diverted to Jaipur and Ahmedabad to conserve fuel. Airlines invoked waiver policies allowing free rebooking within 24 hours.
In the meantime, staying on top of travel documentation can prevent an airport delay from snowballing into a missed business opportunity. VisaHQ’s India service (https://www.visahq.com/india/) lets stranded passengers apply for emergency e-visas, renewals or transit permits entirely online, complete with real-time status alerts and courier pickup. Having paperwork sorted quickly adds flexibility when re-booking flights or rerouting through alternative hubs.
The Indian Met Department expects dense fog to persist through 5 February, especially during 04:00–10:00 IST. Mobility managers should advise executives to buffer schedules, book flexible fares and arrange last-mile ground transport cautiously, as expressways around Delhi also saw multiple pile-ups.
By 09:00 IST, more than 120 domestic departures and 34 international services were running late, according to FlightAware data. Category III-B instrument landing systems kept the runway open, but ramp operations slowed as ground staff battled poor line-of-sight.
Business travellers on early-morning shuttles to Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad were hardest hit, with average delays of 70 minutes. Several wide-body arrivals from Europe were placed in holding patterns or diverted to Jaipur and Ahmedabad to conserve fuel. Airlines invoked waiver policies allowing free rebooking within 24 hours.
In the meantime, staying on top of travel documentation can prevent an airport delay from snowballing into a missed business opportunity. VisaHQ’s India service (https://www.visahq.com/india/) lets stranded passengers apply for emergency e-visas, renewals or transit permits entirely online, complete with real-time status alerts and courier pickup. Having paperwork sorted quickly adds flexibility when re-booking flights or rerouting through alternative hubs.
The Indian Met Department expects dense fog to persist through 5 February, especially during 04:00–10:00 IST. Mobility managers should advise executives to buffer schedules, book flexible fares and arrange last-mile ground transport cautiously, as expressways around Delhi also saw multiple pile-ups.
