Civil Aviation Ministry holds first winter fog preparedness meeting; focus on timely SMS and app alerts for flyers

What happened

The Ministry of Civil Aviation held a meeting on 27 October 2026, chaired by Secretary Sameer Kumar Sinha. This was the first meeting on preparations for the coming winter fog. The aim was to review the readiness and coordination of all partners for the fog season (26-27).

The meeting was attended by DGCA Director General Veer Vikram Yadav, AAI Chairman Puneet Kansal, senior officials of BCAS, CISF and IMD, and representatives of Delhi airport and other fog-affected airports and airlines.

When the fog is expected

IMD officials told the meeting that the fog season is expected from 15 December 2026 to 15 February 2027. The main aim was to keep airport operations running smoothly during fog-related disruptions and to keep passenger inconvenience to a minimum.

What each agency was told

DGCA was asked to carry out regulatory inspections, check compliance with applicable directions, and check aircraft and crew readiness. AAI and airport operators were told to ensure Instrument Landing System (ILS) and Runway Visual Range (RVR) systems, airside safety and adequate terminal capacity during low visibility.

Airlines were told to ensure qualified crew and compliant aircraft for low-visibility operations, prepare practical flight schedules and take operational decisions on time. IMD was asked to provide reliable forecasts and timely weather updates. Air traffic control and navigation service providers were told to keep a safe traffic sequence in fog and coordinate with each other.

What passengers get

The meeting stressed that passengers should get timely information about delays, cancellations or changed departure times through SMS, mobile app and email, so they do not reach the airport without full information.

For long delays and cancellations, preparations were to be made for adequate staff at check-in counters, airline helpdesks and customer care. The Secretary stressed that helpdesks at airports should have knowledgeable staff with the authority to resolve passengers’ questions. The role of BCAS and CISF in safe and orderly passenger movement was also discussed, including re-entry into the terminal and re-boarding where needed.

What next

The notice does not mention any new compensation amount or separate application process. This was a review meeting on preparedness and coordination. For travellers, the useful takeaway is to check flight status on the airline app, SMS or email before leaving for the airport.