Heavy Fog Hits Delhi Airport Again: Flights Operate Under CAT III, Passengers Alerted

The Delhi airport has issued a passenger advisory stating that flights are operating under CAT III due to dense fog and delays and cancellations are possible.

Flight operations at Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) are currently being conducted under Low Visibility Procedures (LVP) / CAT III conditions due to dense fog across the national capital.

According to the latest advisory issued around 9:30 AM on December 23, flight operations are continuing, though passengers may face delays during peak fog hours.

Delhi Airport authorities have advised travellers to stay alert and check real-time flight status with their respective airlines before heading to the airport.

Passengers are also advised to arrive 3-4hours early for both domestic and international flights during foggy conditions.

Delhi Airport Operating Under CAT III

The airport is currently operating under CAT III conditions, which allow aircraft equipped with advanced landing systems to take off and land even in extremely low visibility. There are three different types of categories in which the flights operate during different visibility ranges:

CAT I is used when minimum visibility is about 550 metres.

CAT II is when visibility is between 300 and 549 metres.

CAT III is when visibility is below 300 metres (near-zero visibility).

Due to dense fog, flight movement often becomes slower, which can result in flight delays and occasional cancellations, even though operations continue.

Are Flights Cancelled at Delhi Airport Today?

As per the PTI report, "More than 500 flights were delayed, and at least 14 flights were cancelled at the Delhi airport due to bad weather and low visibility conditions on the night of Dec 22nd." However, no major flight cancellations have been reported today. However, authorities warn that delays may increase if visibility worsens.

Delhi Weather & AQI Add to Fog Trouble

The fog situation is worsening in Delhi because of the high humidity, which is around 93% as of today, low temperatures near 11°C, and poor air quality. As per the latest data, Delhi's AQI in the Airport region stands at 249.

What Passengers Should Do Today

• Check flight status before leaving home
• Reach the airport early
• Keep airline contact details handy
• Monitor official airport advisories
• Be prepared for delays, especially early morning and late-night flights.