Delhi Airport Chaos: Over 100 Flights Cancelled Due to Thick Fog! Check New Govt Rules on Refunds & Rescheduling

Delhi Airport Fog: A thick blanket of dense fog has once again caused significant disruptions to air travel across North and East India, with the national capital bearing the brunt of the chaos. More than 100 flights were cancelled at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport on Saturday morning as visibility dropped to near-zero levels. The widespread cancellations have affected thousands of passengers, leading to long queues and uncertainty at the terminals.

Widespread Disruptions at IGI Airport

The severe weather conditions have severely impacted airport operations. According to the official information displayed on the Delhi Airport website, the cancellations are evenly split between arrivals and departures. So far, more than 50 departing flights and a similar number of arriving flights have been grounded, affecting routes across the country.

This situation is a recurring problem during the winter months, with dense fog frequently developing in the early morning hours across the Indo-Gangetic plains, which includes Delhi. This severely hampers flight operations, leading to a cascade of delays and cancellations that can affect air travel networks nationwide for the rest of the day.

Government Steps In: New Guidelines for Airlines

In response to the growing passenger distress, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has issued a stern set of directives for all airlines. These new guidelines, released on Friday night, are aimed at protecting passenger rights and ensuring airlines provide better communication and support during such disruptions.

The government has mandated that airlines must adhere to the following rules to safeguard passenger interests:

• Accurate Information: Airlines are now required to provide passengers with advance and accurate information regarding flight delays, rescheduling, or cancellations. For any last-minute changes, providing immediate information is mandatory.
• Passenger Welfare: If a flight delay exceeds a certain time limit, airlines must provide refreshments to the waiting passengers. For significant overnight delays, providing hotel accommodation is now compulsory.
• Financial Relief: Airlines cannot levy any additional charges for rescheduling a flight affected by these disruptions.
• Full Refunds: If a flight is cancelled after its scheduled departure time has passed, passengers will be entitled to a full refund. Alternatively, if a passenger agrees to a route change or rescheduling, no extra charges can be applied.
• Boarding Guarantee: Passengers who have checked in on time for their flight cannot be denied boarding.

Furthermore, the ministry has instructed airlines to strictly follow all provisions of the Passenger Charter, which includes rules concerning flight diversions, refunds, compensation, and priority check-in for passengers with special needs. These measures aim to make airlines more accountable and reduce the hardship faced by travellers during fog-related disruptions.