GMR group-led Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) expects minimal flight disruptions during the closure of Runway 10/28 for upgradation between June 15 and September 15. According to a media report, to prevent a repeat of April’s delays and cancellations—caused by sudden wind pattern changes and limited runway availability—DIAL has worked closely with airlines and aviation authorities over the past few weeks to adjust flight slots and ensure smoother operations during the three-month period.
According to DIAL CEO Videh Kumar Jaipuriar, airlines will cancel a total of 114 flights per day—both arrivals and departures—during the runway closure, amounting to around 8% of the daily 1,450 flights. He noted that the usual cancellation rate is around 3–3.5%, so 8% is still manageable. In addition, 43 flights will be shifted from peak to non-peak hours to reduce congestion. Jaipuriar emphasized that, unlike in April, DIAL and the airlines are better prepared this time to handle the situation effectively.
Runway 10/28—one of the four runways at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport—is set to be upgraded to CAT 3B standards, including enhancements to its Instrument Landing System (ILS). Once completed, the runway will support low-visibility landings from both ends, unlike the current setup where only one end is equipped. With this upgrade, Delhi airport will have three runways capable of handling low-visibility operations, significantly improving its ability to manage flight movements during North India’s dense winter fog—often a cause of major disruptions at the country’s busiest airport.
DIAL initially began upgrading the runway in April-May and closed it in April. However, poor coordination with airlines—who did not reduce flights sufficiently—combined with sudden changes in wind patterns, caused widespread delays and cancellations for several days. As India’s largest and busiest airport, disruptions at IGIA have a ripple effect on flights nationwide. Following public outcry, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) stepped in, directing DIAL to reopen the runway and postpone the upgrade to avoid impacting the peak summer travel season. Airlines were also instructed to adjust flight slots to match the reduced runway capacity and minimize passenger inconvenience.
DIAL wants to finish the runway upgrade before the busy festival season from October to December, which is followed by winter when fog often disrupts flights at Delhi airport. The three-month period ending on September 15 is a good time for the airport and airlines to do the work. According to Jaipuriar, when fog causes delays during westerly runway operations, it usually takes about three hours to get back to normal. But during easterly operations, it can take up to six hours. After the upgrade, Runway 10/28 will allow low-visibility landings from both ends, so the time needed to recover from fog delays will be the same for both directions.
In simple terms, westerly and easterly runway operations mean the direction planes land and take off, which depends on the wind. Planes usually take off and land against the wind. During westerly operations, the wind blows from west to east, so planes land from the east and take off towards the west. During easterly operations, the wind blows from east to west, so planes land from the west and take off towards the east.
According to data from DIAL, during low visibility at IGIA, the airport can handle 30 flight arrivals per hour when operating in the westerly direction. But during easterly operations, this capacity drops to just 15 flights per hour. After Runway 10/28 is upgraded, the arrival capacity during easterly low-visibility conditions will improve to match that of westerly operations.
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