Delhi Air Pollution Live Updates: Over 250 Flights Delayed, 22 Cancelled Amid Dense Fog

Dense fog and low visibility across Delhi and large parts of north India disrupted air travel on Thursday, prompting airlines such as SpiceJet, Air India and IndiGo to issue travel advisories urging passengers to check flight statuses before heading to the airport.

At least 22 flights at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport were cancelled, while over 250 flights were delayed due to poor visibility conditions caused by heavy fog.

The travel disruptions coincided with the rollout of stricter anti-pollution measures by the Delhi government. These include a shift to a hybrid work-from-home model for offices, restrictions on the entry of certain vehicles, and a mandatory Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate for refuelling. The measures add to Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP-4), enforced after Delhi recorded ‘severe’ air quality levels for three consecutive days starting December 13.

Although the city’s air quality index (AQI) has improved since then, it continues to remain in the ‘very poor’ category.

Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa has announced that vehicles below the Bharat Stage VI (BS-VI) emission standard and registered outside Delhi will not be allowed to enter the city while GRAP Stages 3 and 4 are in force. Enforcement teams from the Delhi Traffic Police and transport department have been deployed at petrol pumps and border points to ensure compliance.

An official order issued on Wednesday clarified that the vehicle entry restriction will apply only during GRAP Stage 4. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has withdrawn protection against coercive action for BS-III and older vehicles in the national capital, further tightening enforcement amid the pollution crisis.