Delhi Airport Authorities to Reopen Runway 10/28 Amid Delays

Flight delays at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) are set to be addressed with the early reopening of runway 10/28 for non-precision landings. The runway, which had been closed for upgrades, is now being readied for use as airport officials seek to alleviate the mounting flight disruptions caused by unexpected weather patterns and ongoing construction.

Current Flight Disruptions at Delhi IGIA

Flight operations at IGIA have faced significant interruptions this month due to a combination of unseasonal weather and the scheduled closure of runway 10/28 for upgrades. This runway has been crucial in handling a substantial percentage of the airport’s traffic. Effective from April 8, it was closed to facilitate the upgrading of the Instrument Landing System (ILS), but the situation has led to authorities evaluating the need for a swift course correction.

The Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), which manages IGIA, has announced plans to make runway 10/28 operational again within two weeks. The temporary reopening aims to accommodate flights during the peak summer travel season. Using non-precision approaches, flight movements will help ease traffic congestion until the full ILS upgrade can be implemented later in the year.

Airline Concerns and Financial Implications

The decision to reconsider the closure timeline follows a series of meetings involving key stakeholders, including representatives from airlines and civil aviation authorities. With airlines raising alarms over significant financial losses stemming from disrupted schedules, the reopening of the runway could provide relief. DIAL’s insiders have acknowledged that even without full ILS capabilities, non-precision landing methods can be employed to boost arrival capacity at the airport.

With around 100 daily arrivals often exceeding a crucial capacity threshold, airlines had warned that they stood to incur losses nearing INR 1,000 crore if drastic measures were not taken. Consequently, resuming operations on runway 10/28 becomes even more critical as summer travel will continue to surge.

Impact of Seasonal Weather Changes

The early onset of easterly winds complicated flight scheduling in an unexpected twist of events. These winds have meant that aircraft can currently only land from the Dwarka side and must take off toward Vasant Vihar, leading to a bottleneck and extended delays across the board. A violent thunderstorm on April 11, with winds reaching speeds of up to 74 kmph, exacerbated the chaos for airlines already struggling with capacity constraints, impacting over 400 flights during just two days.

Challenges with Terminal Operations

To further complicate matters, Terminal 2 at IGIA has undergone temporary renovations. This closure has increased the pressure on Terminals 1 and 3, resulting in extended wait times at security checkpoints and longer queues for boarding. This infrastructure strain during peak travel periods underscores the importance of optimizing runway operations and overall management at IGIA.

Key Takeaways on Airport Operations

• Reopening runway 10/28 in aggressive timeline.
• Use of non-precision landing methods to manage increased traffic.
• Ongoing weather disruptions affecting flight schedules.
• Further stress on terminal operations due to temporary closures.

In summary, the reopening of runway 10/28 is a significant step towards alleviating congestion at Delhi Airport this summer. Given the added pressure from seasonal weather changes and terminal renovations, it becomes vital to maintain efficient operations for all affected travelers.

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