Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport is set for a major infrastructural overhaul as one of its three runways, 10/28, will be shut for maintenance from June 15 to September 15. The move will result in the cancellation of over 100 flights each day and the rescheduling of nearly 86 flights to off-peak slots, impacting thousands of air travellers daily.
The temporary closure is part of a strategic initiative to upgrade the runway’s Instrument Landing System (ILS) to CAT III-B standards, enabling aircraft to land in visibility as low as 50 metres. This upgrade is critical to managing the dense winter fog that regularly disrupts flight schedules in Delhi between November and January. The airport’s operator, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), confirmed that the modernisation plan had been postponed earlier due to high passenger volumes and air traffic constraints. With Delhi Airport currently handling over 1,300 daily flights, DIAL has taken a phased coordination approach with airlines and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to ease the disruption caused by the 90-day shutdown.
The remaining two runways, 09/27 and 11R/29L, will absorb the diverted traffic to maintain essential connectivity. Authorities have underscored the importance of this upgrade in strengthening the capital’s aviation infrastructure. A senior airport official said the CAT III-B system will significantly boost operational resilience during low-visibility conditions, ensuring passenger safety and timely arrivals even in extreme weather. Airlines such as IndiGo, Air India, Vistara and others have begun adjusting their flight rosters in accordance with the temporary restrictions. Passengers have been advised to reconfirm flight timings in advance and remain prepared for schedule changes during the three-month upgrade window.
The runway upgrade is part of a broader, long-term push to future-proof Delhi’s airport against climate-related and infrastructure stressors. By investing in advanced navigational systems and efficient airport design, authorities aim to make India’s busiest airport both more sustainable and less prone to delays during adverse weather. Aviation industry experts say that such upgrades, though temporarily disruptive, are essential for creating resilient urban infrastructure aligned with global standards. With India witnessing sharp growth in air passenger traffic, particularly in metropolitan hubs like Delhi, strengthening operational capacity while improving passenger experience is an urgent imperative.
This move is not only in line with international safety protocols but also supports India’s larger climate adaptive strategies for smart city development. As cities gear up to face unpredictable weather events, enhancing public infrastructure such as airports becomes central to delivering equitable and sustainable urban mobility. While some short-term inconvenience for passengers is inevitable, the long-term benefits of safer, more reliable air travel in fog-prone North India will far outweigh the temporary disruptions.
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