India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation has instructed airlines, airport operators and aviation agencies to reinforce preparations for the country’s forthcoming winter fog period, with particular emphasis on passenger communication and the safe management of low-visibility operations.
The ministry’s first preparedness meeting for the 2026–27 winter season was chaired on Tuesday by Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha. Officials from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) told the meeting that the fog season is expected to run from 15 December 2026 to 15 February 2027.
Airlines told to plan for reduced visibility
Carriers were instructed to use qualified crew and aircraft compliant with low-visibility requirements, while building schedules that reflect the operating conditions expected during the season. The ministry also called for prompt decisions on delays, cancellations and rescheduling rather than allowing passengers to travel to airports without reliable information about their flights.
Passenger updates are to be distributed through SMS, mobile applications and email. The ministry additionally highlighted the need for airline helpdesks to remain staffed with personnel who are sufficiently informed and empowered to deal with questions during disruption. Check-in counters and customer-service facilities are also expected to have adequate staffing, particularly when delays or cancellations continue for extended periods.
- Airlines must prepare realistic schedules and make timely decisions during disruption.
- Flight information should be sent through SMS, mobile applications and email.
- Airport helpdesks, check-in areas and customer-care facilities must be adequately staffed.
Regulators and airports assigned specific duties
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been asked to check compliance with the requirements, including the readiness of aircraft and crew, and to supervise measures intended to assist passengers. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) and individual airport operators have been directed to verify the availability of essential low-visibility infrastructure and maintain safe airside operations.
| Organisation | Responsibility identified at the meeting |
|---|---|
| Ministry of Civil Aviation | Coordinate winter-fog preparedness and passenger-facilitation measures |
| DGCA | Check regulatory compliance and aircraft and crew readiness |
| AAI and airport operators | Prepare Instrument Landing Systems, Runway Visual Range systems and terminal capacity |
| IMD | Provide forecasts, observations and weather updates |
| Air Traffic Control and air navigation service providers | Apply low-visibility procedures and coordinate aircraft sequencing and traffic management |
Airport operators are expected to ensure that Instrument Landing Systems and Runway Visual Range systems are ready for use, while maintaining airside safety and sufficient terminal capacity when visibility deteriorates. The meeting also assigned the IMD responsibility for regular forecasts, observations and weather information to support operational decisions.
Air Traffic Control and air navigation service providers were told to maintain safe aircraft sequencing, follow low-visibility procedures and coordinate traffic-management measures. The instructions place preparation across the aviation system rather than leaving disruption handling solely to individual airlines, with the DGCA tasked with overseeing compliance as the fog season approaches.
