Delhi IGI Airport begins runway upgrade; 200 flights to be affected daily for three months

Delhi airport handles about 1,450 flights each day, so this means around 8 per cent of the total flights will be affected.

The Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi began work on upgrading one of its four runways, Runway 10/28, on Sunday, leading to the cancellation and rescheduling of around 200 flights each day. The runway will stay shut for three months, from June 15 to September 15, The Indian Express reported.

According to airport operator Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), the upgrade is not expected to cause major disruptions. DIAL, led by the GMR Group, said it had worked closely with aviation authorities and airlines in recent weeks to adjust flight slots and minimise the impact.

Still, the daily flight schedule will see 114 flights cancelled and 86 rescheduled. Delhi airport handles about 1,450 flights each day, so this means around 8 per cent of the total flights will be affected. On a normal day, the cancellation rate is around 3–3.5 per cent, DIAL CEO Videh Kumar Jaipuriar informed.

To avoid problems like those seen in April, when bad weather and runway issues caused chaos, the airport operator has planned ahead this time. "We are better prepared now. We have had detailed discussions and consultations with all stakeholders over the past few weeks,” The Indian Express quoted Jaipuriar as saying.

He also explained why it is better to cancel some flights in advance. “If one flight is delayed by an hour, it takes about three hours to get the schedule back on track because delays build up across the day,” he said.

Runway 10/28 is being upgraded to CAT 3B standards, meaning it will be able to support landings during very low visibility, such as in heavy fog. Right now, this runway supports low-visibility landings only from one side. After the upgrade, it will be able to handle landings from both directions, according to a report by Hindustan Times.

Once the work is finished, Delhi airport will have three runways capable of handling landings in low visibility. This will be especially useful in winter, when thick fog often disrupts flights in northern India.

When westerly winds are blowing, the airport will be able to handle up to 42 takeoffs and 42 landings per hour. However, if easterly winds are present, as was the case during the April trouble, only 32 arrivals will be possible, while takeoffs will remain at 42 per hour.