Over 300 flights delayed at Delhi Airport due to heavy smog , AQI hits ‘severe’

Over 300 flights faced delays at Delhi Airport on Thursday as dense smog blanketed the national capital, reducing visibility and disrupting operations. The air quality in Delhi continued to worsen, with visibility issues leading to delays for both arriving and departing flights. According to the flight tracker Flightradar24, 115 inbound flights and 226 outbound flights have been delayed so far, averaging delays of 17 minutes for arrivals and up to 54 minutes for departures.

Earlier in the day, Delhi Airport issued a visibility advisory on social media, urging passengers to check with their respective airlines for updated flight information. "Low visibility procedures in progress at Delhi Airport. Passengers are requested to contact the airline concerned for updated flight information," the advisory read.

IndiGo Airlines also issued a travel advisory, advising passengers to monitor their flight status closely, noting that the winter fog could impact flights. "This morning, winter fog may impact flights to/from Amritsar, Varanasi & Delhi. Please allow additional travel time as road traffic may move slower than usual due to low visibility," IndiGo posted on X (formerly Twitter).

The air quality in Delhi saw a significant jump overnight, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) escalating from 418 to 452, pushing it into the “severe” category. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported that Delhi's AQI was 459 at noon, marking a sharp decline in air quality since Tuesday when the city’s AQI was 334. Out of 39 monitoring stations, 32 registered AQI levels above 400, particularly near Anand Vihar, IGI Airport, and Patparganj. Certain areas, however, such as Mathura Road and Lodhi Road, remained just under the “severe” threshold.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasted that increased wind speeds could improve the air quality, potentially bringing AQI down to “very poor” in the coming days. Meanwhile, Delhi’s Environment Minister Gopal Rai stated that the third phase of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP 3) would not yet be enforced, despite worsening air quality. “The fog layer in Delhi is due to low wind speed, and we expect an improvement. The Delhi government will take necessary steps if pollution levels continue to deteriorate due to weather conditions,” Rai explained.