Poor Visibility Due to Dense Fog in Delhi and North India; Airlines Advise Checking Flight Status

Delhi woke up to dense fog on Sunday, reducing visibility to near-zero. This also impacted the flight service and Air India and Delhi Airport authorities to issue travel advisories. Air India said that due to heavy fog flight might get delayed throughout its network. Airline is taking steps to reduce these disruptions, and staff will be available to help passengers if their flights are delayed, diverted, or cancelled.

As part of its FogCare program, the airline will notify passengers in advance if their flights are likely to be delayed by fog. These passengers can reschedule their flights for free or cancel them for a full refund without being penalized. The airline advises passengers to check their flight status and plan to arrive at the airport earlier than usual. "The safety of our passengers and crew is our top concern," the airline said.

Airport has also advised passengers to allow extra time for check-in and security, particularly in view of Republic Day arrangements. The airport and Air India prioritised passenger and crew safety, advising travelers to stay updated on flight status and plan accordingly.

#TravelAdvisory

Reduced visibility due to dense fog is forecast in parts of Northern India, including Delhi, tomorrow morning. These conditions may have a cascading impact on flight schedules across our network.

We understand how important your travel plans are and have taken…

— Air India (@airindia) January 17, 2026

Delhi Weather Report

Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 4.4°C on Saturday, 3.2°C below average, according to the IMD. Dense fog occurred in the morning, and the maximum temperature reached 24.6°C with 72% relative humidity at 6 pm. Temperatures are expected to gradually rise from January 17-20, with light rain possible, followed by another cold spell between January 23-26.

#WATCH | Delhi: Visuals from near the Delhi-Noida-Delhi (DND) flyway and surrounding areas as a dense layer of fog blankets the city pic.twitter.com/9FowC8vZzL

— ANI (@ANI) January 18, 2026

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Delhi Air Quality 

Delhi's air quality deteriorated rapidly on Saturday evening, with the 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) rising from 354 ('very poor') to 428 ('severe') by 8 pm. This prompted authorities to implement Stage IV pollution control measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). Officials cited unfavourable meteorological conditions, such as a western disturbance, weak winds, and poor pollutant dispersion, as the cause of the spike.