Passengers flying through Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport may have to deal with some flight schedule changes for a few more months.
The airport’s third runway, which has been closed since February, is now expected to reopen in September instead of July.
The runway is undergoing major repair and modernization work to improve its capacity and overall performance.
Major Upgrades Underway
According to reports, the airport is carrying out several important improvements on the runway.
The work includes strengthening the runway structure, rebuilding a section of it to increase aircraft landing distance, and installing a modern navigation system.
These upgrades are aimed at making flight operations safer and more efficient.
Airport officials believe these changes will significantly improve the runway’s performance once the work is completed.
Airport Capacity Set to Increase
The modernization project is expected to boost the airport’s capacity by around 10 percent.
Reports suggest that the upgraded runway will allow Delhi Airport to handle about eight additional flights every hour.
This will help the airport manage growing air traffic in the coming years and provide smoother services to passengers.
Authorities also decided to complete all the required work at the same time so that the runway does not need to be shut down again in the future.
Lower Traffic Helped Speed Up the Work
Airlines have reduced some flight operations because of the ongoing West Asia crisis, which has led to lower passenger traffic than usual.
This drop in traffic provided an opportunity for airport authorities to carry out all major upgrades together with minimal disruption.
Currently, Delhi Airport can handle up to 84 air traffic movements per hour and around 1,500 flights every day. Since March, overall traffic, including domestic flights, has fallen by about 5 percent.
What It Means for Passengers
Once the project is completed, the runway is expected to become safer, more advanced, and better equipped to handle future air traffic growth.
The upgrades will improve aircraft takeoffs and landings while reducing operational issues.
However, until the runway reopens in September, some passengers may continue to experience changes or adjustments in flight schedules.
