Delhi airport’s third runway, Runway 11R/29L, will resume operations on September 20, 2026, after a seven-month rehabilitation programme designed to improve safety, aircraft movement and the airport’s long-term operating capacity. Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), which manages Indira Gandhi International Airport, announced the reopening on Saturday after the runway received the required inspections, validations and regulatory approvals.
The rehabilitation work began in February and included runway resurfacing, pavement strengthening and the permanent displacement of the threshold on Runway 29L. DIAL also constructed a new Rapid Exit Taxiway, identified as RET Z1, and upgraded airfield ground lighting and associated civil and electrical infrastructure.
The third runway is being returned to service after coordination between DIAL, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the Airports Authority of India, air traffic control, airlines and other airport stakeholders. According to DIAL, the work was undertaken to meet safety, operational and regulatory requirements before the runway could be recommissioned.
The upgraded infrastructure is expected to improve runway efficiency by helping aircraft leave the runway more quickly through the new rapid-exit taxiway. DIAL said the changes would help optimise aircraft movement, reduce runway occupancy time and improve operational reliability in varying weather conditions.
The runway’s reopening comes as Delhi airport continues to manage the operational demands of one of the country’s busiest aviation hubs. Runway availability affects how aircraft are sequenced, landed and dispatched, while the condition and layout of associated taxiways, lighting systems and pavement directly influence how safely and efficiently movements can be handled.
DIAL CEO Pradeep Panicker described the recommissioning as an important milestone in the airport’s development of future-ready aviation infrastructure. He said the project reflected the operator’s focus on safety, operational excellence and passenger service.
Panicker added that the upgraded runway, new Rapid Exit Taxiway and improved navigation and lighting systems would strengthen the airport’s capacity and resilience while supporting the country’s growing aviation requirements. Operations on Runway 11R/29L are scheduled to recommence from September 20 after completion of the prescribed procedures and receipt of approvals.
