Get ready for delays if you’re flying in or out of the national Capital next week as one of the three runways at Delhi airport will undergo repair for three days starting November 7. Airlines have cancelled some flights as capacity of Delhi airport is expected to be reduced by 30 per cent during this period.
Delhi airport handles 67 flights an hour, but between November 7 and 10, the capacity will be reduced to 45 movements in an hour. Sources said that about 300 flights will be affected due to the reduced capacity.
“Runway 11-29 of IGI airport will remain closed for maintenance for three days from 0001hrs on November 7 to 0700hrs on November 10. The scheduled time was chosen after a careful evaluation by airport operator in close consultation with Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the airlines. Given the onset of fog season, the time was jointly agreed from the perspective of safety and operational reliability,” said a Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) spokesperson.
The other two runways — 10-28 and 09-27 — will accommodate the load of runway 11-29.
Runway 10-28 was closed for maintenance for a week in April last year. Delhi airport handles almost 1,150 flights everyday and has a capacity to handle 75 aircraft movement in an hour, which is the highest in the country.
“Detailed safety assessment and other relevant documents were shared with the Indian aviation safety regulator, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). After the due approval from DGCA, the global aviation community was informed by issuing ‘Note for Airmen’ well in advance. During the maintenance, the airfield capacity will be lowered to 45 air traffic movements per hour. The airport operator has revised the slot allocations in consultation with all the airlines,” DIAL spokesperson added.
Airlines operating out of Delhi airport have cancelled some flights.
“It has affected our departures and arrivals into many cities. Unfortunately this is beyond our control. To avoid causing more inconvenience to our customers our teams are working around the clock to accommodate them in other IndiGo flights. Passenger can opt for an alternative flight or cancel and getting full refund for the same,” said an Indigo spokesperson.
SpiceJet has also confirmed that it has cancelled some of its flights and has informed the passengers.
