Delhi Smog Delays 44% of Flight Departures as Low Visibility Disrupts Airport Operations

Post-Diwali pollution and shallow fog have disrupted flight operations at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, with around 44 per cent of departing flights delayed between November 8 and 9, 2026. The disruption has highlighted the operational challenges faced by India’s busiest aviation hub during periods of reduced visibility, despite its advanced Category III (CAT-III) runway infrastructure. With winter conditions approaching, the incident has renewed attention on airport preparedness, runway visibility and the limitations of low-visibility operating systems.

Delhi Airport activated its first Low Visibility Procedure (LVP) of the 2026–27 winter season on Diwali night, as pollution and shallow fog reduced visibility around the airport.

According to data reported by NDTV, approximately 44 per cent of departing flights between midnight on November 8 and 8 pm on November 9 experienced delays. The average delay was around 20 minutes.

Interestingly, arriving flights experienced little or no delay during the same period, indicating that the immediate disruption was more pronounced on the departure side.

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