Delhi airport’s runway RW 28/10 resumes operations after maintenance pause

Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) Delhi resumed operations on runway RW 28/10 on Tuesday, following a temporary closure for maintenance. The reopening is expected to alleviate air traffic congestion at the busy airport.

Initially, the runway was scheduled to remain closed for an extended period to facilitate the upgrade of its Instrument Landing System (ILS) at one end, in preparation for the upcoming fog season. However, the closure, compounded by easterly winds, led to disruptions in flight operations. To address this, maintenance work has been temporarily halted, with the project set to resume in mid-June.

“Following the approved plan with all stakeholders, Delhi airport handed over RW 28/10 to the Air Traffic Control (ATC) at 8:04 am today. Operations will continue until mid-June,” Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) confirmed in a post on X. The temporary reopening is expected to improve the flow of arrivals and departures, particularly with the ongoing unpredictable wind conditions.

The runway had originally closed on April 8 for the ILS upgrade. As one of the country’s busiest airports, IGIA handles approximately 1,300 flights daily, with four runways and two operational terminals, T1 and T3. Terminal T2 is currently closed for maintenance.

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Runways are typically numbered at both ends, indicating the directions for aircraft landings and departures. RW 28/10 is sometimes referred to as RW 10/28 due to this dual designation.

DIAL announced that the runway will be closed again from mid-June to mid-September 2025, after the peak tourist season, when winds are expected to shift. The airport operator reassured passengers that it is working closely with airlines and stakeholders to minimise disruptions.

In light of recent flight delays and congestion, Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu assured the public on April 28 that the ministry was closely monitoring the situation at Delhi airport. “We are overseeing every aspect of operations and have guided the airport authorities to ensure better planning moving forward,” he said, addressing concerns that the timing of the runway maintenance could have been better coordinated.

(With inputs from PTI)