Low visibility procedure activated at Delhi airport due to post-Diwali smog

Visibility has dropped at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport due to the toxic haze and smog spreading in Delhi after Diwali, resulting in airport authorities activating the Low-Visibility Operating Procedure (LVP). According to an NDTV report, this procedure was implemented for the first time on Diwali night for the 2026-27 winter season.

The impact of this procedure was clearly visible on flight schedules. During the period from midnight on 8 November to 8 pm on 9 November, delays were recorded in approximately 44 per cent of departing flights. The average delay for these flights was around 20 minutes. However, flights landing at the airport during the same period experienced very few delays or landed on time.

An advisory regarding the low-visibility procedure was issued by the airport for passengers. Authorities clarified that flight operations are continuing. They further stated that the activation of LVP is merely a precautionary safety measure and does not mean that normal flight operations at the airport have been suspended.

Although Delhi airport's runways are equipped for Category III (CAT-III) operations, this technology does not provide a complete guarantee against delays. The ability to take off or land in poor visibility depends on several factors, including Runway Visual Range (RVR), aircraft equipment, the airline's certification, and the appropriate qualification of the pilot operating the flight.

The situation remained mixed on Tuesday. According to data from Flightradar24's live airport operations tracker at 12.45 pm on 10 November, an average delay of 13 minutes was observed. The platform recorded 197 delayed flights, which was approximately 14 per cent of the total flight movements for the day. Additionally, 32 flights were cancelled, accounting for nearly 2 per cent of total flights.

According to the tracker's data, 719 departures and 704 arrivals were scheduled or recorded at that time. On a five-point scale used by the platform to measure flight traffic flow, the disruption index stood at 1.2, which the platform categorises as relatively good traffic flow.

However, these figures represent the operational positions reported at the time of inspection and are not the final figures at the end of the day. Furthermore, it cannot be said that all these delays or cancelled flights occurred solely due to poor visibility. Airline scheduling, aircraft rotation, air traffic congestion, and other operational factors may also contribute to these figures.

Shallow fog was recorded at IGI airport on 10 November. The post-Diwali pollution in Delhi has once again highlighted the vulnerabilities of the capital's aviation operations.