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IndiGo has issued a fresh travel advisory for passengers flying to and from Dubai, warning that adverse weather over the emirate could disrupt flight operations, trigger delays and extend waiting times at one of the world’s busiest international hubs.
Advisory Issued as Weather Disrupts Dubai Flight Operations
IndiGo on Monday, February 23, 2026, cautioned customers that its services to and from Dubai may be affected as deteriorating weather conditions threaten to slow air traffic at Dubai International Airport. In a statement shared via its official channels, India’s largest carrier by market share said unfavourable weather in Dubai could lead to schedule disruptions, longer queues and extended onboard waits.
The airline stressed that safety remains its primary consideration, but acknowledged that the knock-on effect of weather-driven air traffic restrictions could be felt across its UAE network. IndiGo operates multiple daily flights linking Dubai with key Indian cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and Kochi, making the advisory significant for both business and leisure travellers.
IndiGo’s message follows warnings from UAE authorities of unstable conditions affecting visibility and airport operations across the country. As a result, air traffic controllers in Dubai have been spacing out arrivals and departures more cautiously, which can quickly build into congestion during peak travel periods.
Fog and Low Visibility Add Pressure to Busy Dubai Hub
The latest advisory comes amid a spell of challenging weather for the United Arab Emirates, with forecasters flagging dense fog and rapidly changing visibility over Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Al Ain through late February. Red and yellow alerts issued by the National Centre of Meteorology highlight the risk of visibility dropping below a few hundred metres during early morning hours, the very window when many long-haul flights arrive and depart.
At Dubai International, one of the world’s busiest international gateways, periods of thick fog can trigger stand holds, diversions and spacing restrictions, as ground and air traffic managers adjust operations to maintain safety margins. Recent episodes have already led to inbound flights holding in the air or diverting to nearby airports while conditions improved, with some passengers reporting delays of close to an hour before disembarkation.
For carriers like IndiGo, which run tightly timed rotations using narrow-body aircraft across the region, a single delay into Dubai can ripple across several subsequent legs. Aircraft and flight crews arriving late may miss their next departure slot, forcing rescheduling, aircraft swaps or, in more extreme cases, flight cancellations, particularly on routes with limited turnaround buffers.
What IndiGo Passengers on Dubai Routes Should Expect
While IndiGo has not announced widespread cancellations linked directly to the current Dubai weather, the airline is openly signalling that travellers may experience operational turbulence in the form of late departures and arrivals. Passengers have been advised to keep a close watch on their flight status before leaving for the airport and to be prepared for longer waiting times at check-in, security and boarding gates.
In practical terms, that could mean aircraft holding on the apron until visibility or runway capacity improves, or boarding starting later than scheduled while air traffic control sequences arrivals and departures. Onboard, travellers might experience extended taxi times or waits on the tarmac as crews wait for take-off clearance, especially during dense fog or when airport movements are temporarily reduced.
IndiGo has said its ground staff and cabin crews are being deployed to help manage queues, provide updated information and support passengers affected by rolling delays. The airline has also encouraged customers with onward connections, particularly those self-connecting onto other airlines in Dubai, to allow extra time and to build additional contingency into their itineraries.
Regional Aviation Feeling the Impact of a Volatile Weather Pattern
The IndiGo advisory is part of a broader pattern of weather-related disruption that has swept through regional and international aviation in recent weeks. Across the UAE, dense fog episodes this month have already caused diversions and lengthening delays, with some airports reporting dozens of affected flights during the most intense periods.
Beyond the Gulf, airlines are grappling with severe winter storms and sudden dust events that have forced diversions and cancellations on routes in India, Southeast Asia and North America. In India’s northeast, an IndiGo flight operating to Dibrugarh via Guwahati was recently diverted to Imphal after a dust storm reduced visibility below safety minima, illustrating how quickly conditions can force operational changes even close to destination.
Global aviation networks are particularly vulnerable when multiple weather systems converge. The current spell coincides with a powerful Nor’easter hitting the United States East Coast, which has already prompted major Gulf and Indian carriers to scrap or reschedule transatlantic and transcontinental services. Disruptions on these long-haul routes can further complicate aircraft and crew rotations feeding into Middle East hubs, amplifying the strain on schedules.
How IndiGo Is Managing Operations and Customer Support
IndiGo has indicated that its operations control teams are closely monitoring meteorological updates from Dubai and coordinating with local airport authorities to adjust flight plans as conditions evolve. This includes building in extra holding fuel where needed, planning for potential diversions and staggering departures from origin airports to reduce congestion on arrival.
The carrier is also working to streamline communication with affected passengers, leaning on digital tools such as email and SMS alerts to share real-time updates about gate changes, revised departure times and rebooking options. At airports, IndiGo staff have been instructed to prioritise clear, frequent announcements, especially for flights to and from Dubai that are at heightened risk of weather-related delay.
From a customer service perspective, IndiGo is emphasizing flexible handling for travellers whose plans are disrupted. While each case is governed by fare rules and local regulations, the airline has typically offered waivers or no-penalty changes during significant operational disruptions, especially when delays or reroutings are directly attributable to adverse weather rather than airline controllable factors.
Advice for Travellers Heading to or Connecting Through Dubai
For passengers planning to fly on IndiGo services into or out of Dubai while the current weather pattern persists, travel planners recommend allowing extra time at every stage of the journey. That begins with arriving at the airport earlier than usual, especially during early morning bank departures when fog risk is greatest and check-in counters can become crowded if multiple flights are retimed.
Travellers with separate onward tickets on other carriers are being urged to build generous buffers between flights, given the increased likelihood of irregular operations. For example, those connecting from an IndiGo flight from India to a long-haul service out of Dubai may wish to consider a longer layover than usual, reducing the chance that a delay on the first leg jeopardises an expensive long-haul segment.
Passengers are also advised to keep essential items such as medications, chargers, a change of clothes and basic toiletries in their cabin baggage in case bags are delayed or an unplanned overnight stay becomes necessary. In addition, ensuring that contact details are correctly stored in booking records can help airlines reach travellers quickly with time-sensitive updates about schedule changes.
Wider Implications for Dubai as a Global Aviation Hub
The latest spell of severe weather is a reminder of how sensitive global aviation flows are to conditions at a handful of major hubs, and few are more critical than Dubai. The airport handles tens of millions of international passengers annually and serves as a key connector between Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas. Any temporary reduction in capacity, even for a few hours, can have disproportionate ripple effects across multiple continents.
Operations teams at Dubai International have long experience managing fog and other weather disruptions, and the airport has invested in advanced navigation aids and ground movement systems to minimise downtime. Even with these capabilities, however, safety protocols require that movements be slowed or temporarily halted when visibility falls below mandated thresholds, which can quickly build into backlogs during peak waves of arrivals and departures.
For IndiGo and other carriers that rely on Dubai as a strategic gateway for South Asian travellers, the challenges underline the importance of resilience and flexible planning. Airlines are increasingly building scenario-based planning into their schedules, anticipating seasonal weather patterns and pre-emptively allocating spare aircraft and crew where practicable to cushion the impact of disruptions.
What Comes Next for Passengers and Airlines
Forecasters expect unstable conditions, including fog and low visibility, to persist intermittently over parts of the UAE through the coming days, suggesting that airlines such as IndiGo may need to keep weather advisories in place for some time. Travellers booked on Dubai routes in the near term should assume that schedules could change at short notice and plan accordingly.
Industry analysts note that while weather-related disruption is not new, the layering of multiple events across regions can stretch airline resources and test customer patience. As carriers balance safety considerations with commercial pressures, transparent communication and flexible policies will be central to maintaining traveller confidence, particularly on high-demand routes linking India and the Gulf.
For now, IndiGo is urging patience from its Dubai-bound customers and reiterating that teams on the ground and in the air are working to move passengers as efficiently as conditions allow. With global air travel volumes continuing to climb, the latest disruptions serve as a timely reminder for travellers to stay informed, stay flexible and be prepared for plans to shift when the weather does not cooperate.