India’s busiest aviation hub, Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, has been in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons lately. From massive flight delays and diversions to frustrated passengers clashing with staff, the situation at IGI has exposed serious cracks in planning and management. Authorities are now scrambling to find fixes, with the long-closed Runway 10/28 set to reopen in early May.
Passenger woes peakIGI Airport has experienced significant interruptions in the last week that have affected both domestic and international operations. Nearly 582 planes were reportedly delayed recently, causing terminal mayhem and even altercations between passengers and ground personnel. Videos of angry passengers yelling at airline staff and demanding explanations and compensation went viral on social media.
Among the notable disruptions was the diversion of former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's flight, which was rerouted to Jaipur. The incident sparked online speculation, prompting Delhi Airport authorities to clarify that low visibility and operational congestion were to blame—not any targeted denial of landing permission.
What went wrong?Multiple reports point fingers at poor planning and ignored warnings. As per reports, 68% of flights experienced delays in a single day, with many aircraft left circling in holding patterns or diverted altogether. Experts say this crisis didn’t come out of nowhere. Aviation analysts and even airline insiders had previously warned about the increasing strain on IGI's infrastructure, especially after the closure of Runway 10/28 for resurfacing last year.
The airport, designed to handle around 1,200 flight movements a day, has been overstretched, especially with summer travel kicking in. The closure of one of its three runways added significant pressure, reducing operational flexibility and leading to cascading delays across the board.
Runway 10/28 to reopenIn response to the mounting chaos, Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) has announced that Runway 10/28 will reopen in the first week of May. This critical runway, which had been shut for resurfacing and technical upgrades, is expected to ease bottlenecks considerably once it’s back in service.
This reopening comes not a moment too soon. Airlines have reportedly been informed, and the aviation ministry is coordinating with DIAL to streamline flight schedules. The move is expected to improve on-time performance, reduce diversions, and alleviate the strain on air traffic control and ground operations.
Although the runway's reopening is a positive development, it also highlights the necessity of improved infrastructure foresight and crisis planning. India's main international entry point is Delhi Airport, and systemic issues of this magnitude have an impact on the entire aviation sector in the nation.
Experts argue that beyond physical infrastructure, smarter scheduling, improved communication between stakeholders, and passenger-centric protocols are essential. As summer travel surges, IGI will need have to have proper planning in place to ensure hassle-free travel for people travelling via the airport.
Passenger woes peakIGI Airport has experienced significant interruptions in the last week that have affected both domestic and international operations. Nearly 582 planes were reportedly delayed recently, causing terminal mayhem and even altercations between passengers and ground personnel. Videos of angry passengers yelling at airline staff and demanding explanations and compensation went viral on social media.
Among the notable disruptions was the diversion of former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's flight, which was rerouted to Jaipur. The incident sparked online speculation, prompting Delhi Airport authorities to clarify that low visibility and operational congestion were to blame—not any targeted denial of landing permission.
What went wrong?Multiple reports point fingers at poor planning and ignored warnings. As per reports, 68% of flights experienced delays in a single day, with many aircraft left circling in holding patterns or diverted altogether. Experts say this crisis didn’t come out of nowhere. Aviation analysts and even airline insiders had previously warned about the increasing strain on IGI's infrastructure, especially after the closure of Runway 10/28 for resurfacing last year.
The airport, designed to handle around 1,200 flight movements a day, has been overstretched, especially with summer travel kicking in. The closure of one of its three runways added significant pressure, reducing operational flexibility and leading to cascading delays across the board.
Runway 10/28 to reopenIn response to the mounting chaos, Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) has announced that Runway 10/28 will reopen in the first week of May. This critical runway, which had been shut for resurfacing and technical upgrades, is expected to ease bottlenecks considerably once it’s back in service.
This reopening comes not a moment too soon. Airlines have reportedly been informed, and the aviation ministry is coordinating with DIAL to streamline flight schedules. The move is expected to improve on-time performance, reduce diversions, and alleviate the strain on air traffic control and ground operations.
Although the runway's reopening is a positive development, it also highlights the necessity of improved infrastructure foresight and crisis planning. India's main international entry point is Delhi Airport, and systemic issues of this magnitude have an impact on the entire aviation sector in the nation.
Experts argue that beyond physical infrastructure, smarter scheduling, improved communication between stakeholders, and passenger-centric protocols are essential. As summer travel surges, IGI will need have to have proper planning in place to ensure hassle-free travel for people travelling via the airport.
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