Passengers traveling through Delhi airport may experience flight delays over the next four months, as the airport’s primary runway (28/10) has been closed for an upgrade to the instrument landing system (ILS) on one end. The upgrade aims to support CAT III operations during the upcoming winter, improving the airport’s capacity to manage flights in low-visibility conditions.
Flight delays will be more when wind direction (easterlies) leads to aircraft landing from Dwarka side and taking off towards Vasant Vihar — instead of the other way round when westerlies are blowing.
Runway 28/10 was closed on Tuesday (April 8). Since then, with easterly winds prevailing, departures have been limited to two runways—09 and 11 Left (11L)—while arrivals can take place only on one, 11 Right (11R), due to the alignment of the runways.
"On the other hand when westerlies blow — which is the case mostly — runway 27 can be used in mixed mode to handle both arrivals and departures while runway 29L and 29R are used for only arrivals and departures, respectively," said people in the know, adding, "Easterly winds are a temporary phenomenon in this time of the year, likely to change as per Met department in a day or two."
A flight delay at the airport can trigger a ripple effect, causing subsequent delays on all other routes the same aircraft is scheduled to operate that day. Given that this is India’s busiest airport, the overall impact could be considerable.
Airlines have accordingly started warning passengers. "Runway upgradation work is currently underway at IGIA and is expected to continue until July. During this period, flight schedules may get impacted and we advise all customers to closely monitor their flight status on our website or app before heading to the airport:" IndiGo said on X on Wednesday.
The Delhi airport operator said on X that it "is currently undergoing essential runway upgrades, reflecting our long term commitment to enhancing airport infrastructure and improving travel experiences. We are working closely with all stakeholders to minimise any potential impact on flight operations. Passengers are advised to check with their respective airlines for latest flight updates. We regret any inconvenience caused and thank you for your understanding and support."
Runway 28/10 is expected to remain closed till July-end.
Source: Times of India/MSN
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