Image Source: The Economic Times
Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport is set to cancel 114 flights every day for three months, starting June 15, as it shuts one of its main runways for a major upgrade. The move, aimed at making the runway CAT III compliant for better operations during dense winter fog, will impact about 7.5% of the airport’s daily flights.
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The runway closure affects RW 10/28, which will be out of service from June 15 to September 15 for Instrument Landing System (ILS) upgrades and lighting enhancements. The upgrade will allow safer landings and takeoffs in low-visibility conditions, especially during Delhi’s foggy winters.
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Out of roughly 1,450 daily flights at Delhi Airport, 114 flights (57 arrivals and 57 departures) will be cancelled each day. Another 86 flights will be rescheduled to non-peak hours to reduce congestion.
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The cancellations and rescheduling represent about 7.5% of daily capacity, slightly higher than the usual 3–4% cancellations on a normal day.
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The airport operator, DIAL, says passengers are being notified well in advance, and most affected routes have multiple daily flights, so overall connectivity should not be severely disrupted.
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The timing of the upgrade was chosen to coincide with the monsoon, a lean travel season, to minimize impact on passengers and airfares.
Once completed, the upgraded runway will double the number of flights that can land during dense fog, improving efficiency and reducing delays in the winter months.
This is the second attempt to upgrade the runway; an earlier effort in April was halted due to operational chaos and passenger complaints.
Delhi Airport continues to operate three other runways and two terminals during this period, with T2 closed for maintenance.
Source: NDTV, Economic Times, The Hindu BusinessLine, The Telegraph, Hindustan Times, Times of India, Indian Express
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