Delhi’s Indira Gandhi Int’l airport to add fourth runway

NEW DELHI, Aug 06 (Gulf News): In addition to the fourth runway, 'Phase 3A expansion plans includes expansion of the airport's Terminal 1 apron area and development of dual elevated Eastern Cross Taxiway, DIAL said.

Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) will construct a fourth runway at Indira Gandhi International airport, part of its $1.4 billion phase 3 expansion plans that will pave the way for more flights to India's capital city.

The new runway, and associated infrastructure projects planned by DIAL, are projected to increase the airports annual passenger handling capacity from around 66 million to 100 million by 2022, DIAL said in a statement.

Delhi International airport has been facing problems with frequent flight congestion, with many inbound flights forced to circle over the airport before they get to land.

Though airline seat capacity ceilings, under bilateral air services under India and Middle East countries, have limited Gulf-based and Indian carriers from expanding operations, issues regarding landing slots and flight congestion at major airports, such as Delhi and Mumbai, have also impacted growth plans, according to aviation industry experts.

"DIAL has been facing the problem of having to handle much higher number of passengers than its capacity. But whether it was more in terms of the air-side capacity or terminal-side capacity is not known," an aviation analyst with a Mumbai-based rating agency familiar with DIAL told Arabian Business.

In addition to the fourth runway, 'Phase 3A expansion plans includes expansion of the airport's Terminal 1 apron area and development of dual elevated Eastern Cross Taxiway, DIAL said.

"These works, upon completion, would not only increase the passenger handling capacity of the Delhi airport to 100 million passengers per annum (MPPA) in the next three years, but also enhance the airside capacity to handle 140 MPPA," DIAL said.