New Delhi, Feb 26 – The Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) has announced that Terminal 2 (T2) of the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) will be temporarily shut down for four to five months starting in April to facilitate infrastructure upgrades. Additionally, one of the airport’s runways will be closed for an Instrument Landing System (ILS) upgrade during the same period.
DIAL CEO Videh Kumar Jaipuriar stated that ongoing work at Terminal 1 (T1) is expected to conclude by March 15. Once the necessary approvals are obtained, flights will resume operations from T1, accommodating the 15 million passengers previously handled at T2.
With rising passenger traffic, the airport is also repurposing a section of Terminal 3 (T3) to cater to international flights. At present, the international terminal handles approximately 67,000 to 68,000 passengers daily, translating to nearly 24 million annually. However, T3’s designated international capacity is only 20 million, forcing the airport to operate at overcapacity.
To address this, DIAL plans to convert Pier C, currently serving domestic flights, into an international section at T3. This move will increase international capacity to 32 million passengers, ensuring sufficient handling capacity for the next four to five years based on airline projections.
Currently, IGIA has an overall annual passenger handling capacity of approximately 109 million, distributed among its three terminals—T1 (40 million), T2 (15 million), and T3. However, T3 is already exceeding its designed international capacity of 34 million, currently handling 45 million passengers.
The upcoming runway upgrade aims to enhance operational efficiency by making it CAT III B compliant, allowing flights to operate under low-visibility conditions. This improvement is crucial as IGIA frequently faces fog-related disruptions during the winter season.
With these strategic upgrades, IGIA aims to enhance passenger experience, improve efficiency, and accommodate growing air traffic demand in the coming years.
