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Delhi Airport temporarily paused its runway upgrade following severe flight delays and backlash from travelers. Nearly 900 flights were affected in a single day. With summer travel peaking, DIAL has delayed the works and issued alerts about terminal changes to ease passenger inconvenience.
Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), one of the busiest airports in Asia, temporarily suspended its runway upgrade operations on Sunday, April 20, following intense social media criticism and widespread passenger frustration over flight delays.
Nearly 900 Flights Affected in a Single Day
According to aircraft tracking service Flightradar24, around 500 departures and 400 arrivals were delayed at Delhi Airport on April 20. This disruption impacted 60–70% of the airport’s total daily operations, leading to chaotic travel experiences for thousands of passengers.
What Caused the Flight Delays?
The flight delays were initially triggered by the ongoing runway upgrade project, which temporarily shut down one of IGI Airport’s four runways.
However, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) clarified that unfavourable wind patterns, particularly easterly winds, compounded the issues and required adjustments to aircraft movement, which airlines did not implement adequately.
DIAL stated on social media, “When these easterly wind situations have been arising in the past few days…airlines have been advised, in accordance with pre-agreed plans, to adjust flight schedules. However, there were minimal to no changes made.”
Runway Works Postponed to Ease Summer Travel Pressure
In response to growing pressure and to accommodate peak summer travel demand, DIAL has now postponed the remaining upgrade work by “a month or so.” DIAL plans to resume operations on the affected runway in the first week of May, just before the holiday season begins.
The upgrade work aimed to enhance the instrument landing system (ILS), which ensures safe landings during low-visibility conditions like heavy fog or rain.
Important Terminal Shift: Passengers Advised to Check Terminal Information
In addition to the runway disruption, the airport authorities have relocated all domestic flights from Terminal 2 (T2) to Terminal 1 (T1). This shift impacts both arrivals and departures, especially for budget carriers like IndiGo and Akasa Air.
Airlines advise travellers who regularly use Terminal 2 to reconfirm their terminal details before heading to the airport to avoid confusion or delays. This change is part of the airport’s broader infrastructure upgrade to improve capacity and passenger flow.
About Delhi Airport
• Ownership: Joint venture between GMR Airports (74%) and the Airports Authority of India (26%)
• Annual passenger traffic: Over 73 million
• Runways: 4 operational runways
• Flight routes: Over 150 domestic and international routes
Key Takeaways for Travellers
• Check real-time flight status before heading to the airport
• Monitor official terminal information updates
• Arrive at the airport well in advance, especially during peak hours
• Follow Delhi Airport’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle for timely alerts
Airport authorities urge passengers flying through Delhi Airport to stay updated, check terminal details in advance, and allow extra time due to flight delays and terminal shifts this summer session.
Source: https://travelobiz.com/delhi-airport-halts-runway-upgrade-flight-delays/
