Flight operations at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) have been affected by poor visibility in the capital. This morning at 7 am, the Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi was 454, which falls in the 'severe' category. Yesterday, it was 461. The airport has also issued a travel advisory for passengers today, confirming the disruptions. "We are working closely with all stakeholders to minimise inconvenience to passengers. For the latest flight updates, passengers are advised to contact their respective airlines. We sincerely regret any inconveniences caused," said the airport authorities on X. 

Advisories from airlines
Indigo Airlines, which has already been marred by repeated flight cancellations over the past few days, issued an advisory stating that its flight schedules are impacted in Delhi today as well. "We are keeping a close watch on the weather and doing our best to get you where you need to be, safely and smoothly. We request that you stay updated on your flight status via our website or app. Be assured, our teams are here to assist you at every step and ensure support," they said on X. They have also asked passengers to ensure they have extra time while travelling to the airport due to possible traffic jams caused by the toxic haze. Air India also said passengers should check their flight status before heading to the airport. 

IndiGo flight . Photo: PTI
While the Delhi airport claims opreations are disrupted due to fog, many passengers allege that inefficient ground staff is also to blame. Photo: PTI

Passengers blame ground operations
While the Delhi airport claims operations are disrupted due to fog, many passengers allege that inefficient ground staff is also to blame. Flyer Jiten Agarwal said, on X, "Plane from Istanbul landed 2.30 hours back but still at the runway due to inefficient ground operations and lack of gates in New Delhi. Easy to blame it on fog rather than applying the brain and caring for passengers." Another flyer also asked why not inform passengers early if there will be a delay, instead of making them go to the airport. A few also said that they lost their baggage due to the chaos. Many are also demanding refunds due to the disruptions. 

AQI levels
1. Zero to 50 - Good
2. 51 to 100 - Satisfactory
3. 101 to 200 - Moderate
4. 201 to 300 - Poor
5. 301 to 400 - Very Poor
6. 401 to 500 - Severe

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