Delhi Airport’s Terminal 2 to Close Temporarily from April for Renovation
The Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in Delhi is set for a major revamp as Terminal 2 (T2) will be temporarily shut down for four to five months starting April, Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) announced on Wednesday. Alongside the terminal upgrade, one of the runways will also be closed for upgradation, including an Instrument Landing System (ILS) upgrade to enhance flight operations in low visibility conditions.
The Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in Delhi is set for a major revamp as Terminal 2 (T2) will be temporarily shut down for four to five months starting April, Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) announced on Wednesday. Alongside the terminal upgrade, one of the runways will also be closed for upgradation, including an Instrument Landing System (ILS) upgrade to enhance flight operations in low visibility conditions.
DIAL CEO Videh Kumar Jaipuriar stated that the passenger capacity of around 15 million from T2 will be shifted to Terminal 1 (T1), which is expected to reopen after March 15, pending regulatory approvals. Currently, T1 has a capacity of 40 million passengers, T2 handles 15 million, and the remaining capacity is at T3.
Key Upgrades at Delhi Airport
- Terminal 2 closure: T2 will be shut for four to five months for upgradation.
- Terminal 1 reopening: T1 is expected to be operational after March 15.
- Runway upgrade: One runway will be non-operational during this period for ILS upgradation, making it CAT III B compliant, allowing flight operations in low-visibility conditions.
- Expansion of international capacity: A section of T3 (Pier C), currently used for domestic operations, will be converted to handle international flights, increasing international capacity from 20 million to 32 million passengers.
- Aviation hub development: DIAL is working towards making Delhi an aviation hub with four slot banks for better flight connectivity.
Delhi Airport’s Growing Passenger Load
Delhi airport currently handles around 1,300 flights daily and has a total annual passenger capacity of 109 million across its three terminals. However, with increasing traffic, the airport is making structural changes to ensure smooth operations.
Jaipuriar noted that the international passenger load is currently at 67,000–68,000 per day, amounting to nearly 24 million annually, surpassing the rated capacity of 20 million for international operations at T3. The conversion of Pier C into an international section will accommodate growing passenger demand over the next four to five years.
Delhi Airport’s Plan to Become a Global Aviation Hub
DIAL is also focused on establishing Delhi as a major aviation hub, aiming to have four slot banks by the end of the next financial year. Slot banks are designated time slots that optimize flight connections, allowing seamless transfers within two to two-and-a-half hours.
“Good quality hubs have anywhere between four to six banks. Delhi used to have two banks, we have moved to the third bank, and our target is to reach four banks next year,” Jaipuriar explained. The introduction of a fourth runway and increased international-to-international (I-to-I) transfer capacity will further aid this transformation.
Sources By Agencies
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