Latest news with #InstrumentLandingSystem
India.com
23-05-2025
- Business
- India.com
Delhi Airport Runway Closure: Centre To Ensure Minimal Impact On Scheduled Flights
As airport authorities prepare to temporarily shut one of the runways at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in June, Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu on Friday said that discussions are on with key stakeholders to ensure minimal impact on scheduled flights. Runway 28/10 is scheduled to be shut down from mid-June until mid-September to facilitate the upgrade of the Instrument Landing System (ILS) to CAT III B standards — a critical upgrade to one of the airport's primary runways. The technology enables aircraft to land safely during low visibility conditions, which are particularly common during Delhi's dense winter fog. Speaking on the sidelines of the curtain-raiser event for the aviation conference 'Wings India 2026,' to be held in January in Hyderabad, Union Minister Naidu said that the ministry is discussing with stakeholders, including airlines, on how to ensure minimal impact on the scheduled flights due to the closure of the runway. The Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) has four runways -- RW 09/27, RW 11R/29L, RW 11L/29R and RW 28/10 -- and two operational terminals -- T1 and T3. The T2 terminal is currently closed for maintenance works. The initial attempt to close the runway in April was abandoned after just four weeks, as flight schedules descended into disarray. The airport was unable to accommodate its usual daily traffic of approximately 1,400 flights using only three of its runways. According to reports, due to the closure of the runway, nearly 50 daily flights will be cancelled, while another 50 will be shifted to off-peak hours. Airport authorities are optimistic that resuming the work during the June–September period will allow for smoother operations. The Civil Aviation Ministry also plans to release revised flight schedules well in advance to help passengers avoid last-minute disruptions during runway maintenance at the Delhi airport.
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Business Standard
23-05-2025
- Business Standard
Delhi airport to cancel or reschedule 100 flights daily from June 15
Passengers flying through Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport should brace for considerable disruptions starting June 15, with airport authorities preparing to cancel or reschedule approximately 100 flights each day for nearly three months. This move comes as part of a critical upgrade to one of the airport's primary runways, the Hindustan Times reported. Runway 28/10 is scheduled to be shut down until mid-September to facilitate the upgrade of the Instrument Landing System (ILS) to CAT III B standards. This technology enables aircraft to land safely during low visibility conditions, which are particularly common during Delhi's dense winter fog. 50 flights to be cancelled daily at Delhi airport, 50 moved to off-peak hours Around 50 daily flights will be cancelled, while another 50 will be shifted to off-peak hours. The airport typically handles an average of 721 arrivals and a similar number of departures daily, the report said. 'After reviewing air traffic flow and aircraft rotations and operational dependencies, about 100 individual flights will need to be either cancelled or shifted to off-peak hours,' said one official, as quoted by the report. A second official added that this plan was discussed in a recent meeting chaired by Airports Authority of India (AAI) Chairman Vipin Kumar. Leading Indian carriers, including the Air India group, IndiGo, Akasa Air, and SpiceJet, presented revised schedules during the meeting. The updated flight rosters are expected to be officially submitted to the ministry in the coming week. April runway shutdown caused delays across major sectors This planned maintenance follows a failed attempt in April, when a similar closure triggered massive delays across the country. Despite early warnings, airlines did not scale back their operations, resulting in widespread chaos and prompting an intervention by Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu. The work, which started on April 8, was halted and the runway reopened by May 5 after public outrage and a parliamentary committee's concerns. Officials noted that the April decision to pause maintenance was influenced by the peak travel period during the summer holidays. The closure had reduced the airport's arrival capacity from 46 flights per hour to roughly 36, especially impacting traffic during easterly wind conditions, the report said. ALSO READ: Low travel season chosen to complete pending CAT III B work Authorities are optimistic that resuming the work during the June–September period — when travel demand tends to dip — will allow for smoother operations. 'It's better to take a small hit now than face large-scale delays when the fog sets in. This is all about being better prepared for winter,' said an aviation ministry official, as quoted by the report. To minimise disruption, officials said the adjustments will primarily affect routes with multiple daily flights and lower passenger demand. Revised flight schedules to be announced in advance The civil aviation ministry plans to release revised flight schedules well in advance to help passengers avoid last-minute disruptions during runway maintenance at Delhi airport. Airlines are shifting flights from peak to non-peak hours to manage airport capacity more effectively. The maintenance work is being scheduled during the lean summer period, when aircraft load factors are lower, offering more room for operational adjustments, the news report said.
Hindustan Times
23-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Delhi: IGI runway work may hit 100 flights daily
Passengers flying through Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport could face significant inconvenience starting next month, with airport authorities deciding to cancel and reschedule about 100 flights daily during a crucial runway maintenance period. Approximately 50 flights will be cancelled and another 50 rescheduled starting June 15 until mid-September, three officials aware of the matter told HT, detailing plans for when runway 28/10 will be shut to upgrade the Instrument Landing System (ILS) to CAT III B standards—instruments that help pilots land in low visibility conditions common during Delhi's foggy winters. The slashing of services comes after a similar attempt in April led to widespread chaos in flight schedules at the country's busiest airport, forcing authorities to abandon the work. An average of 721 arrivals and around an equal number of departures have been scheduled for the typical day during this period, one of the officials said. 'After reviewing air traffic flow and aircraft rotations and operational dependencies, about 100 individual flights will need to be either cancelled or shifted to off-peak hours,' the official cited above said. A second official added that during a meeting chaired by Airports Authority of India (AAI) chairman Vipin Kumar on Wednesday, major Indian airlines (Air India group, IndiGo, Akasa Air and SpiceJet) presented a revised flight schedule. 'The new schedule is expected to be filed (with the ministry as per the rule) in the next week,' the official added. IndiGo and Air India, which have the largest number of services at IGI Airport and therefore need to make most of the adjustments, did not respond to requests for a comment. The April crisis exposed critical coordination gaps in India's aviation ecosystem. Despite being informed well in advance about the runway closure, airlines had not reduced their flight operations, triggering delays that cascaded throughout the country. The work, which began on April 8, was stopped and the runway reopened on May 5 after Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu intervened following widespread passenger complaints and a parliamentary standing committee expressed concerns over the disruptions. The decision to suspend the work and reopen the runway was made keeping in mind the peak summer season travel during April and May, officials said. The April closure resulted in Delhi airport's arrival capacity dropping from about 46 flights per hour to around 36, particularly affecting operations when easterly winds were in effect. A third official said the June-15 to September window is likely to be leaner. 'It's better to take a small hit now than face large-scale delays when the fog sets in. This is all about being better prepared for winter,' this person, who is with the aviation ministry, said, asking not to be named. 'Authorities have worked closely with airlines to ensure these adjustments have minimal impact on passengers,' the first official cited above said. 'Cancellations have been targeted on routes where airlines operate multiple daily flights and where demand is relatively lower, so seat availability on alternate flights remain sufficient.' 'We will be in the non-peak summer period, which means flights are operating with lower load factors; around 70 to 75 percent, compared to 85 percent or more during peak travel times,' a ministry official said. 'This gives us more flexibility to adjust the schedule with minimal disruption.' 'Flights are mainly being rescheduled from peak to non-peak hours to stay within the airport's limited capacity during critical periods,' an airline official requesting anonymity said. 'Airlines are acting in coordination with airport operators and the civil aviation ministry to prevent major disruption later in the year (in the winter).' The coordinated approach this time contrasts sharply with April, when airlines maintained full schedules despite advance notice of the runway closure. Ministry officials said that the updated schedules expected to be filed by airlines next week will give passengers weeks' notice to plan their travel accordingly—unlike April when many passengers faced last-minute delays and cancellations. 'Passengers will be able to choose their flights as per the new schedule, avoiding the chaos that occurred last month,' the official said.
NDTV
14-05-2025
- Climate
- NDTV
Delhi Airport To Shut Runway 28/10 For 90 Days From June 15 For Major Upgrade
Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) will temporarily close Runway 28/10 for 90 days starting June 15, 2025, to upgrade its Instrument Landing System (ILS) to CAT III-B standards. This enhancement will enable aircraft to land safely during low-visibility conditions, particularly addressing challenges posed by Delhi's dense winter fog. The decision follows a previous attempt in April that was curtailed due to unforeseen challenges, including unseasonal easterly winds that reduced the airport's operational capacity, leading to over 400 flight delays. To mitigate such issues during the upcoming closure, the airport plans to utilise its other runways, taking advantage of the westerly winds expected during this period. IGIA, India's busiest airport, handles approximately 1,300 flight movements daily and operates four runways: RW 09/27, RW 11R/29L, RW 11L/29R, and RW 10/28. Currently, Terminal 2 (T2) is closed for maintenance, with operations shifted to Terminals 1 (T1) and 3 (T3). Generally, a runway is numbered at both ends, indicating the directions for landing and departure of planes. Sometimes, they are interchangeably used, like RW 28/10 is also mentioned as RW 10/28. Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), which operates the airport, had already said on Monday (May 5th) that as per the approved plan, runway RW 28/10 will be closed again from mid-June to mid-September 2025, following the peak tourist season, when wind direction is also expected to shift.
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Delhi Airport to shut runway 28/10 for 90 days; what travellers need to know
Starting on June 15, 2025, Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) will temporarily close Runway 28/10 for 90 days to make necessary improvements that would enhance aeroplane operations in low visibility situations. As part of a strategic initiative, the runway's Instrument Landing System (ILS) is being updated to CAT III B standards, which will allow safe landings for flights even in severe fog—a regular issue during Delhi's winter months. 28/10 is of IGIA's four runways, which is crucial for handling the airport's high volume of aircraft. Therefore, the necessity to enhance its operational effectiveness and safety during inclement weather prompted the decision to upgrade its ILS to CAT III B. During foggy conditions, this improvement will drastically cut down on delays and cancellations by allowing aircraft to land with visibility as low as 50 meters. Due to significant delays in flight schedules, the initial attempt to start these upgrades in April 2025 had to be abandoned within four weeks, as the airport was unable to manage its average load of over 1,400 flights per day with only three runways in operation. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Upto 15% Discount for Salaried Individuals ICICI Pru Life Insurance Plan Get Quote Undo Read more: 8 offbeat national parks in India that deserve your weekend Taking that experience into account, the authorities have now gone ahead with the rescheduled closure to mid-June, a period of relatively low air traffic, to lessen the inconvenience to passengers. Ahead of the runway shutdown, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu held a high-level meeting with the who's who of Indian aviation—think top brass from all domestic airlines, the AAI, DGCA, and DIAL. The mission? Avoid a sequel to the scheduling chaos of the last upgrade attempt. Airlines have been directed to come armed to prepare flight cancellations ahead of time and suggest ways to lessen the impact on customers. The idea is to turn turbulence into a smooth landing this time around—with teamwork leading the charge. Read more: 5 states where every city feels like a different country Runway 28/10 will undergo a significant technological update to fulfil CAT III B standards. Modern Instrument Landing System (ILS) technology will be installed together with a lighting system that is extended from 650 to 900 meters. These improvements will make the airport more effective and weather-resilient overall, and they are mission-critical for maintaining flight schedules during periods of low visibility, particularly during Delhi's foggy winters. Passenger advisory It is recommended that travellers who want to pass via Delhi during the closure period enquire about possible schedule changes with their individual airlines. Travel delays can be minimised by making reservations in advance and keeping track of aircraft statuses. The authorities are dedicated to keeping the improvement project running smoothly and causing the least amount of disruption. In an effort to improve IGIA's operational capabilities and safety standards, Runway 28/10 will remain temporarily closed. However, it will become CAT III B compliant, which will likely drastically cut down weather-related delays and other issues. The concerted efforts of aviation stakeholders and government agencies are to ensure that a proactive approach is in place for infrastructure development and superior passenger service. Future-Proof Your Child with AI Skills | Limited Early Bird Seats – 33% OFF! | WhatsApp: 9560500838
