Flying in North India's Fog Season 2026–27: Smart Booking Tips for Delhi and Beyond

Published 1 November 2026 · IdeaMytrip Travel Guides

Fog season is six weeks away — plan for it now

Every winter, dense fog settles over Delhi and much of north India, and flight schedules across the country feel the knock-on effect. This year the India Meteorological Department expects the fog season to run from 15 December 2026 to 15 February 2027, according to the Ministry of Civil Aviation's preparedness review in late October.

That window overlaps with year-end client meetings, the wedding season, Christmas and New Year holidays and the Republic Day long weekend. If you are booking any of those trips now, a few smart choices at the booking stage can save you hours in a terminal — or a missed meeting. Here is how to book flights and hotels with fog in mind.

Why fog still delays "fog-ready" airports

Airports equipped for CAT III operations use advanced instrument landing systems so that trained pilots in certified aircraft can land in very low visibility. Under CAT III B, landings can continue with visibility down to about 75 metres, and take-offs need around 125 metres.

As of December 2025, six Indian airports had the infrastructure for these operations:

CAT III helps, but it is not magic. When visibility falls close to zero, operations stop entirely. Even before that, planes must be spaced further apart: Delhi handles around 1,500 flight movements a day — roughly one a minute in normal weather — which slows to about one every three minutes in fog. Taxiing in thick fog is also slow, because the landing system does not guide aircraft on the ground. A few hours of zero visibility in the morning can leave a backlog that lasts well into the afternoon, and roughly 40 airports across north and north-east India face fog problems each winter.

How to book flights for the fog season

1. Choose your departure time carefully

Fog-affected flights are typically those scheduled in the early morning or late evening. If you are flying to or from Delhi, Lucknow, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Varanasi or Patna between mid-December and mid-February, a late-morning or early-afternoon flight gives the fog more time to lift. The first flight of the day is usually the most reliable choice in other seasons — in fog season, it is often the riskiest.

2. Fly non-stop, or connect away from the fog belt

A short delay on the first leg can break a tight connection. Book non-stop flights wherever you can. If you must connect, prefer a hub such as Mumbai (BOM), Hyderabad (HYD) or Bengaluru (BLR) over a Delhi connection, and allow at least three hours between flights. Avoid stitching together two separate tickets in winter: if the first flight is late, the second airline has no obligation to help.

3. Build in a buffer day for anything that cannot move

For a board meeting, a wedding or an international departure from Delhi, arrive the afternoon before rather than on the morning itself. One extra hotel night costs far less than a missed event or a rebooked long-haul ticket.

4. Pay for flexibility on fog-season dates

A slightly higher flexible fare, and a hotel rate with free cancellation, are worth considering for travel between 15 December and 15 February. Corporate travellers should check their company travel policy for rebooking rules before the season starts.

5. Know where you might end up

When Delhi closes in fog, flights are usually diverted to airports such as Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Nagpur, Bhopal or Indore. Keep a charged phone, medicines and a snack in your cabin bag, so a diversion is an inconvenience rather than an ordeal.

Check your airline's fog programme: Last winter Air India ran "Fog Care" for Delhi flights, notifying passengers likely to be hit by fog by WhatsApp and email and letting them rebook free on an Air India flight on the same route within 72 hours, or cancel for a full refund of the affected portion (usable once per booking). IndiGo's fog-season measures include rostering low-visibility-qualified crews and offering refund or rebooking options for delays of more than two hours. Policies can change each season, so check the airline's website before you fly.

Know your rights if fog disrupts your flight

The DGCA's passenger charter sets minimum standards for delays and cancellations. The essentials:

One important caveat: weather counts as an extraordinary circumstance, so airlines generally do not pay cash compensation for fog, and meals and hotels can be withheld when the disruption could not reasonably have been avoided. You should still be offered a refund or alternative travel when a flight is cancelled. If an airline refuses help you are entitled to, you can raise a complaint on the government's AirSewa portal.

Hotel tips for fog-season trips

• Stay near the airport before an early flight. In Delhi, Aerocity hotels are minutes from Terminals 2 and 3 — useful if you are rebooked onto a different flight at short notice.
• Tell your hotel about late arrivals. If your flight is delayed past midnight, call ahead so your room is held.
• Book refundable rates at both ends of the trip, so a cancelled flight does not cost you a hotel night too.

Your fog-season checklist

• Check that your mobile number and email on the booking are correct — airlines have been told to send timely updates by SMS, app and email.
• Complete web check-in as soon as it opens, and check flight status before leaving home.
• Allow at least three hours for any connection, and avoid separate tickets.
• Pack a charger, medicines, a warm layer and a snack in your cabin bag.
• Keep your hotel's phone number handy to report a late arrival.
• Note your airline's fog policy and the DGCA rules above before you travel.