India’s winter flight schedule for 2026-27 runs from Sunday 25 October 2026 to Saturday 27 March 2027, following the global IATA convention of starting on the last Sunday of October. The DGCA reviews and approves airlines’ winter timings, frequencies and airport slots for this period, so flight times and route frequencies can shift even on routes you fly often. Winter also brings the fog season across north India, so build in extra time at fog-prone airports.
Updated September 2026 · HappyFares
Twice a year, airlines worldwide switch between summer and winter schedules, and India’s domestic and international timetables move with it. Here is what actually changes for you as a passenger.
When does the winter 2026-27 schedule start and end?
The season begins on Sunday 25 October 2026 and runs through to Saturday 27 March 2027. This follows the International Air Transport Association’s long-standing convention that the northern winter season starts on the last Sunday of October and ends on the last Saturday of March the following year, a rhythm airlines and airports worldwide plan around twice a year.
India does not observe daylight saving time, so this is not about clocks changing. It is about airlines re-filing their published timetables, frequencies and airport slots for the new season.
What does the DGCA actually approve for this period?
Ahead of each season, domestic airlines file their requested arrival and departure slots with the DGCA and with the relevant airport operators, based on runway, apron and terminal capacity at each airport. For the winter 2026-27 season, the DGCA approved about 13,000 weekly domestic flights across India’s airlines, according to published reports of the approval. This is not a cap on how many flights any one route gets, it is the aggregate of what every airline requested and was cleared to fly across the whole domestic network for the season.
Because this filing happens fresh each season, a flight time or frequency you are used to on a route can genuinely change between the summer and winter schedules, even if the route itself continues.
Why might your flight’s timing or frequency change?
Airlines adjust schedules seasonally for demand, weather patterns and connections. A route that ran three times a day in summer might run four times a day around a winter travel peak, or shift its timings by an hour or two to better connect with other flights at a hub airport. None of this is announced loudly to individual passengers, so if you booked a ticket for winter months well in advance, it is worth checking your booking again closer to the date, since your flight number can carry a slightly different departure time than when you first booked.
How does fog season affect winter flying in India?
Dense fog is a recurring feature of north Indian winters, particularly at airports like Delhi, and it typically causes the most disruption broadly through December, January and into February. During periods of very low visibility, airports move to what is known as CAT III operations, a set of instrument landing procedures that allow certified aircraft flown by trained pilots to land and take off even when visibility is poor. Not every flight, aircraft or pilot roster is CAT III-ready at every moment, and even where CAT III equipment is available, runway occupancy and taxiing still slow down in thick fog, so delays, diversions and occasional cancellations are common at the worst-affected airports during this window.
If you are flying through a fog-prone airport, especially on an early morning departure, build in extra buffer time and keep an eye on your flight status the night before and the morning of travel.
What should you do differently when booking for winter travel?
Book as you normally would, but treat the exact departure time as provisional if you are booking months ahead, since winter re-filings can nudge it. Setting a price alert on the route you want is also useful during this season, since fares can move around both the DGCA schedule changes and the festive and fog-season demand swings that follow soon after.
Common Questions
Does the winter schedule change international flights too?
Yes, the IATA winter and summer season split applies globally, not just to India’s domestic network, so international airlines and routes into and out of India also move to their winter timetables on the same late-October changeover.
Will my already-booked ticket automatically show the new timing if it changes?
Airlines are expected to notify passengers of significant schedule changes, but it is good practice to check your booking yourself a few days before departure, particularly for tickets booked well in advance of winter.
Is fog season the same every year?
The broad window, roughly December into February, recurs every winter, but the severity and exact days of disruption vary year to year depending on weather conditions.
Which Indian airports are most affected by winter fog?
Delhi is the most frequently cited example due to both its traffic volume and its weather patterns, along with other airports across north India, though the exact impact in any given week depends on local conditions.
Can I get a refund if fog delays or cancels my flight?
Airline policies on weather-related disruptions vary and are usually laid out in the fare rules and conditions of carriage. Check directly with your airline for how it handles rebooking or refunds when fog disrupts a specific flight.
Does the winter schedule mean fewer flights overall?
Not necessarily. Total approved weekly flights reflect what airlines requested for that season, and on many routes frequencies can go up rather than down, depending on demand for that time of year.
Booking for the winter months? Compare flights on HappyFares and set a price alert so you know if fares or timings on your route move.
Schedules, frequencies and fog-season disruptions can change. Confirm your exact flight timing with the airline or DGCA sources close to your travel date.
