Subheadline: The repurposed pier will handle international arrivals and departures at Terminal 3 during the BRICS Leaders’ Summit, raising the airport’s annual international passenger capacity to 31 million once fully operational.
Delhi International Airport Limited has begun progressively operationalising the repurposed Pier C at Terminal 3 for international operations ahead of the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit, adding handling capacity for the expected increase in international traffic.
The pier, which was previously used for domestic operations, began its phased opening on Wednesday night. International arrivals and departures are scheduled to be handled from Thursday evening, according to DIAL, the operator of Indira Gandhi International Airport.
“The phased operationalisation will provide additional flexibility and capacity to manage the expected increase in international movements during the summit period,” DIAL said in a statement.
Once fully operational, the conversion is expected to increase the airport’s annual international passenger-handling capacity by 50% to 31 million passengers per annum. The airport operator said the move is part of a broader preparedness plan for the summit, which is being hosted from September 11 to 13.
The summit is expected to bring leaders and senior delegations from BRICS member and partner countries, as well as heads of international organisations and business representatives, to the capital. The additional international processing capacity is intended to support the movement of delegates and other passengers during the event.
DIAL said the operational preparations were being carried out in coordination with the Central Industrial Security Force, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, airlines, ground-handling agencies, immigration and customs authorities, among other airport stakeholders. The coordination is aimed at maintaining airport security and passenger-handling operations while international traffic rises during the summit period.
DIAL chief executive officer Pradeep Panicker said the airport had completed preparedness measures for leaders, dignitaries and international delegations. “We have undertaken comprehensive preparedness measures… to efficiently manage the anticipated increase in international traffic while maintaining the highest standards of safety, security and passenger experience,” he said.
The Pier C conversion was announced by DIAL in April. The operator said at the time that the change had been completed without new construction and would improve Terminal 3’s ability to accommodate next-generation and wide-body aircraft.
The phased commissioning means the pier will be brought into service progressively rather than through a single full-scale opening. DIAL has not provided further details in the supplied statement on the number of flights or passengers expected to use the facility during the summit period. The next operational milestone is the planned commencement of international arrivals and departures from Thursday evening.
