NEW DELHI- Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL), Delhi authorities have announced plans to cancel or reschedule approximately 100 flights daily beginning June 15, 2025, as the facility undertakes a critical three-month infrastructure upgrade project.
The disruptions will continue through mid-September as airport officials implement essential safety improvements to accommodate India’s challenging weather conditions.
Photo: Sandeep/ atc spotterDelhi Airport Runway Shutdown
Airport management has scheduled the complete closure of Runway 28/10 to facilitate the installation of an upgraded Instrument Landing System (ILS) featuring CAT III B technology.
This advanced system enables aircraft to execute safe landings during extremely low visibility conditions, addressing the severe operational challenges posed by Delhi’s winter fog patterns that frequently ground flights during peak travel seasons.
The runway upgrade represents a significant investment in aviation safety infrastructure, as Delhi Airport (DEL) currently processes an average of 721 daily arrivals alongside a comparable number of departures.
The 3-month timeline reflects the complexity of installing precision landing equipment that meets international aviation safety standards.
Photo: Sandeep/ atc spotterFlight Ops Affected
Airport authorities have developed a comprehensive operational strategy that divides the 100 affected daily flights into two distinct categories.
Officials plan to cancel approximately 50 flights outright while relocating another 50 flights to off-peak operational hours when airport capacity constraints prove less restrictive.
Aviation officials explained that this approach emerged from an extensive analysis of air traffic flow patterns, aircraft rotation schedules, and operational dependencies across multiple airline carriers. The strategy aims to maintain essential connectivity while managing the reduced runway capacity during the upgrade period.
Airports Authority of India (AAI) Chairman Vipin Kumar recently chaired a critical planning meeting that brought together representatives from India’s major airline carriers to coordinate the operational adjustments.
Air India (AI), IndiGo (6E), Akasa Air (QP), and SpiceJet (QP) presented their proposed schedule modifications during the comprehensive planning session.
The participating airlines developed revised flight schedules that prioritise essential routes while minimising passenger inconvenience through strategic timing adjustments. These carriers plan to submit their finalised operational schedules to the civil aviation ministry within the coming week, allowing sufficient time for regulatory approval and passenger notification.
Photo: X UserPrevious Maintenance Attempt
The current planning efforts follow a disastrous April maintenance attempt that generated widespread operational chaos throughout India’s aviation network.
Despite receiving warnings about the planned closure, airlines failed to reduce their operational schedules appropriately, resulting in massive delays that affected passengers nationwide.
The April maintenance project, which commenced on April 8, faced immediate suspension following public outcry and intervention by Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu.
Parliamentary committee concerns about the operational disruptions forced authorities to reopen the runway by May 5, leaving the critical safety upgrades incomplete.
The failed April closure reduced Delhi Airport’s hourly arrival capacity from 46 flights to approximately 36 flights, particularly impacting operations during easterly wind conditions that require specific runway configurations for safe aircraft operations.
Photo- Delhi Airport (Facebook)Strategic Timing
Aviation ministry officials have strategically scheduled the resumed maintenance work during the June through September period, when seasonal travel demand typically experiences significant reductions.
The proactive approach prioritises long-term operational reliability over short-term convenience.
An aviation ministry official stated that accepting temporary operational constraints during low-demand periods prevents more severe disruptions when winter fog conditions challenge airport operations.
Photo: Wikimedia CommonsBottom Line
The operational adjustments will leverage the summer period’s typically lower aircraft load factors, providing airlines with greater flexibility to accommodate passengers on alternative flights when cancellations become necessary.
This passenger-focused approach aims to minimise individual travel disruptions while completing the essential safety infrastructure improvements that will benefit long-term aviation operations at India’s busiest airport.
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Delhi Airport Storm Aftermath: Around 500 Flights Affected
The post Delhi Airport to Cancel Over 50 Flights from Next Month appeared first on Aviation A2Z.
