Air India rolls out ‘fog care’ initiative to minimise winter travel disruptions

New Delhi: Air India on Monday said it has activated a series of customer-centric initiatives, including its ‘Fog Care’ programme, to minimise passenger inconvenience during the winter fog season, particularly at its primary hub in Delhi.

In a statement, the airline said it is working closely with all stakeholders and has strengthened operational preparedness through CAT III B crew rostering, CAT III B aircraft deployment, network-wide airport readiness, technology-enabled passenger assistance and proactive communication.

The airline noted that northern India, including Delhi, witnesses severe visibility constraints during winter, which can have a cascading impact on flight schedules across the network. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has declared December 10, 2025, to February 10, 2026, as the official fog window for the season.

Drawing from last year’s improved fog operations and learnings from previous seasons, Air India said it has further tightened its standard operating procedures (SOPs) to manage potential fog-related delays and disruptions.

As part of its preparedness, the airline will ensure adequate cockpit crew trained in Low Visibility Operations (LVO) using CAT III B or specific Instrument Landing Systems, with trained personnel kept on standby for contingencies. CAT III B-certified aircraft will be strategically deployed at fog-prone airports, while ground teams at stations will be strengthened to assist passengers, manage delays, and facilitate rebooking.

Air India said airport teams will make regular announcements, proactively re-accommodate affected passengers on alternative flights, and keep care packages with refreshments ready at both origin and diversion airports.

The airline has also aligned flight schedules to reduce inconvenience on long-haul and metro-to-metro routes with onward connectivity. Its Integrated Operations Control Centre will monitor operations round-the-clock, using real-time weather forecasts and safety risk assessments to enable proactive schedule adjustments.

To support passengers, dedicated teams at Air India’s customer contact centres have been activated to handle fog-related queries. The airline will send SMS, WhatsApp and email alerts to passengers ahead of travel, along with real-time updates on its website and social media platforms.

Under the Air India Fog Care initiative, flights likely to be impacted by fog are proactively identified based on meteorological forecasts, and passengers are informed in advance of delays or schedule changes. Affected passengers will have the option to reschedule their flights at no extra cost or opt for a full refund without penalty, the airline said.