One of Delhi’s biggest transport hubs, the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI), will be closing one of its four runways for an upgrade starting this Sunday. Travelers should be on the lookout for travel disruptions with the runway closing for three months which could affect nearly 200 daily flights due to cancellations and rescheduling.
The airport operator (DIAL) stated it has “taken suitable precautions” in trying to minimize disruptions. DIAL spent several weeks speaking with airlines and aviation authorities in order to adjust flight slots, thereby mitigating any disruptions. DIAL did not want to repeat the chaos of April when runway closures and weather delays were concerned which received considerable public backlash, according to The Indian Express.
Delhi Airport Runway 10/28
Runway 10/28 will be unserviceable until September 15 with anticipated critical technical upgrades. This means the runway will be enhanced to CAT 3B with highly developed Instrument Landing System capabilities so that flights can arrive safely when visibility drops to acceptable minimal standards. Right now this runway has this capability from one end, this upgrade will bring full capability from either direction.
Flight Cancellations/Rescheduling During The Runway Upgrade
As they say in real estate, location, location, location! According to DIAL CEO Videh Kumar Jaipuriar, airlines will be cancelling 114 flights a day, plus an additional 86 flights will be rescheduled, representing an 8% flight cancellation rate, higher than the normal 3-3.5 percent daily average cancellation rate. But this was an effective unavoidable measure with the timing of runway upgrade works.
The end result long-term will be huge. Once everything is completed IGI Airport will have three runways with fully capable landings during dense North India winter fog. The upgrade of the runway will not only make the airport more resilient but will also allow for smoother operations for those flying through, greatly enhancing the passenger travelling experience in the indecisive difficult winter months of North India.
