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Persistent heavy rain over Delhi and the wider NCR has slowed air traffic at Indira Gandhi International Airport, with waterlogging and low visibility causing delays and diversions and prompting major carriers IndiGo and Air India to issue alerts to passengers.
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Showers, squall and waterlogging strain India’s busiest airport
The latest spell of intense rain began on Friday, September 4, when a sharp downpour and a rare squall hit Delhi in the afternoon, flooding roads in and around IGI Airport and briefly reducing visibility to about 600 metres. Published accounts describe nine to eleven flights being diverted in the space of an hour, with aircraft rerouted to Jaipur, Lucknow and Ahmedabad as crews waited for conditions to stabilise.
Waterlogging was reported on approach roads, forecourts and tunnels near the airport campus, forcing passengers and staff to navigate ankle-deep water and slowing vehicles headed to the terminals. Local coverage notes that two of IGI’s three terminals saw flooding in forecourt and subway areas, adding to the challenge of moving travellers and baggage efficiently during the afternoon peak.([indiatoday.in](https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/rain-lashes-delhi-ncr-thunderstorms-darken-skies-imd-issues-red-alert-2987032-2026-09-04?utm_source=openai))
While runway operations continued, the combination of poor visibility, wet surfaces and disrupted ground access translated into knock-on delays across the evening. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had already placed Delhi under a red warning for heavy rain and thunderstorms on Friday, signalling a high likelihood of short, intense bursts of rainfall and strong winds that can rapidly impact airport capacity.([indiatoday.in](https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/rain-lashes-delhi-ncr-thunderstorms-darken-skies-imd-issues-red-alert-2987032-2026-09-04?utm_source=openai))
IndiGo urges flyers to monitor flight status and allow extra time
As fresh showers swept across Delhi on Saturday morning, IndiGo issued a travel advisory highlighting that bad weather over the capital could lead to delays in flight operations. Public posts and advisories reviewed by news outlets show the carrier asking customers travelling to and from Delhi to check real-time flight status via its website or mobile app before leaving for the airport.([newsable.asianetnews.com](https://newsable.asianetnews.com/india/indigo-issues-travel-advisory-for-delhi-flights-amid-bad-weather-articleshow-dr8sq0w?utm_source=openai))
IndiGo also recommended that passengers allow additional time for their journey to the airport, citing slower-than-usual road conditions because of standing water and traffic congestion. The airline’s messaging framed the situation as dynamic, stating that teams were closely monitoring the evolving weather picture and its impact on schedules, while emphasising that digital tools remained the most reliable channel for last-minute updates.([newsable.asianetnews.com](https://newsable.asianetnews.com/india/indigo-issues-travel-advisory-for-delhi-flights-amid-bad-weather-articleshow-dr8sq0w?utm_source=openai))
Reports from flight-tracking platforms and local media indicate that departures and arrivals on some IndiGo routes experienced delays as crews and air traffic control sequenced movements through intermittent showers and variable winds. However, the airline’s advisories stopped short of announcing structural cancellations, focusing instead on potential disruption and the need for passengers to stay informed.
Air India issues parallel warning as IGI insists operations are normal
Flag carrier Air India mirrored IndiGo’s message, with coverage noting that the Tata Group-owned airline cautioned customers that flights into and out of Delhi could be affected by the adverse weather. Public information shows Air India advising passengers to verify their flight status before setting out and to factor in extra travel time given reports of waterlogging on arterial routes leading to the airport.([northernherald.in](https://www.northernherald.in/regional/delhi-rains-disrupt-flight-operations-at-igi-airport--indigo--air-india-issue-passenger-advisories/article-24382?utm_source=openai))
At the same time, the airport operator maintained that flight operations at IGI remained normal as of late Saturday morning, even as it acknowledged the IMD’s warning of inclement weather in the vicinity. Statements carried by local outlets describe on-ground teams coordinating with airlines and other stakeholders to keep passenger flows moving and to respond quickly if conditions worsened.([northernherald.in](https://www.northernherald.in/regional/delhi-rains-disrupt-flight-operations-at-igi-airport--indigo--air-india-issue-passenger-advisories/article-24382?utm_source=openai))
This contrast between airline caution and airport assurances created a nuanced picture for travellers: scheduled services were broadly continuing, but both carriers and the airport stressed that individual flights might still see delays because of evolving weather and associated air-traffic constraints.
IMD alerts and citywide flooding complicate airport access
The aviation disruption unfolded against a backdrop of broader weather warnings across Delhi-NCR. The IMD issued red-level alerts for parts of the region on Friday and followed with yellow to orange alerts into Saturday, flagging the prospect of continued light to moderate rain, isolated heavier showers, thunderstorms and gusty winds.([indiatoday.in](https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/rain-lashes-delhi-ncr-thunderstorms-darken-skies-imd-issues-red-alert-2987032-2026-09-04?utm_source=openai))
These conditions translated into widespread waterlogging across the capital. Media reports listed the Palam Airport tunnel, Geeta Colony, Mandi House, Subroto Park and several low-lying stretches as among the worst-affected locations, with traffic moving slowly and, in some pockets, coming to a standstill. For air travellers, this meant that even when flights were operating on or near schedule, simply reaching IGI in time for check-in became more difficult.([newindianexpress.com](https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/delhi/2026/Sep/04/delhi-rain-disrupts-flights-waterlogs-airport-as-imd-warns-of-intense-showers?utm_source=openai))
The rain also pushed down temperatures, providing some respite from recent heat, but the short, intense bursts posed particular challenges for drainage infrastructure. Visuals shared across news platforms showed vehicles navigating submerged sections of roadway and pedestrians wading through pooled water, conditions that can quickly disrupt public transport links that many passengers rely on to reach the airport.
What travellers through Delhi should expect in the short term
Although IGI Airport has not reported a sustained shutdown of operations, recent events underline how quickly weather in the capital can ripple through air travel. On Friday, diversions and temporary ground holds were triggered within a narrow time window of storms and squally winds, while the following morning’s rainfall was enough to justify renewed airline advisories despite broadly normal runway activity.([newindianexpress.com](https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/delhi/2026/Sep/04/delhi-rain-disrupts-flights-waterlogs-airport-as-imd-warns-of-intense-showers?utm_source=openai))
For travellers booked to fly via Delhi over the coming days, publicly available information points to several practical takeaways. First, with IMD forecasts signalling at least intermittent showers, schedule changes may occur at short notice as airlines and air traffic controllers balance safety margins with capacity. Second, ground access to the airport can remain unreliable after a downpour, so factoring in additional travel time and checking live traffic conditions is likely to be as important as monitoring flight status.
Finally, given how quickly advisories were issued by IndiGo and Air India during this weather episode, passengers who enrol for airline alerts or regularly refresh carrier apps and websites are better placed to respond if a departure is retimed, a connection becomes tight or a flight is temporarily rerouted. For now, reports suggest that Delhi’s main gateway is operating, but with weather-sensitive fragilities exposed by this latest round of monsoon rain.
NDTV: Waterlogging in Delhi, red alert for heavy rain, flight delays expected
India Today: Delhi airport flooded, streets waterlogged after an hour of heavy rain
Economic Times: Delhi rains, airlines issue advisories as weather disrupts IGI flights
Yes Punjab: Delhi rains disrupt flight operations at IGI Airport