Runways Of Delhi Airport: How Many Takeoff Lanes?

As of January 2025, Delhi Airport has four operational runways. The fourth runway was inaugurated in July 2024, making Delhi Airport the only airport in India with four runways. The 4.4-kilometre-long runway is parallel to the third runway (11/29) on the southern side and is expected to enhance operational efficiency. The runway's physical construction was completed in September 2021, despite challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The airport has four runways

The Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in Delhi is a bustling aviation hub, and its four runways play a crucial role in managing the high volume of air traffic. With the addition of the fourth runway, the airport has significantly enhanced its operational efficiency.

The four runways of the Delhi Airport are identified as RW 09/27, RW 11R/29L, RW 11L/29R, and RW 10/28. Each runway is assigned a unique identifier based on its orientation and direction. These identifiers are crucial for pilots and air traffic controllers to ensure safe and efficient aircraft operations.

RW 10/28, also known as the second runway, underwent re-carpeting and refurbishment work in 2023. This rehabilitation project aimed to improve the overall passenger experience and enhance the airport's capacity. The work included re-carpeting the 3,813-metre-long and 45-metre-wide runway with Polymer Modified Bitumen (PMB). PMB is a durable material that can withstand heavy-duty traffic and extreme weather conditions.

The fourth runway, inaugurated in July 2024, is an integral part of the airport's Phase 3A expansion project. With a length of 4.4 kilometres, it runs parallel to the third runway (11/29) on the southern side. The construction of this runway faced challenges due to the presence of a live taxiway, but careful planning ensured minimal disruption to airport operations.

The addition of the fourth runway is a significant milestone for the Delhi Airport, as it is now India's only airport with four operational runways. This achievement aligns with the airport's commitment to providing world-class aviation infrastructure and services to its passengers. It also underscores the airport's dedication to sustainable development, as the expansion project includes initiatives to reduce carbon emissions and enhance the overall flying experience.

Runway 11R/29L is 4,430m long

The Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, India, has four runways. One of these runways is Runway 11R/29L, which is 4,430 metres long and 60 metres wide. This runway was inaugurated in August 2008, costing ₹1,000 crore. It is one of the three runways that are operated simultaneously during the day to handle traffic. At night, only runways 11R/29L and 10/28 are operated. Runway 11R/29L has one of the world's longest paved threshold displacements of 1,460 metres. This displacement is due to the presence of a 263-metre-high Shiv statue located near runway 29L, which reduces the available landing length on this runway to 2,970 metres.

The Delhi Airport is the busiest airport in India in terms of passenger and cargo traffic. In the 2023-24 financial year, the airport handled 73.6 million passengers, the highest in its history. It is also one of the busiest airports in the world, ranking tenth according to OAG's latest rankings. The airport is spread over 5,106 acres and is located 16 km from the New Delhi city centre.

The airport has three actively scheduled passenger terminals and a cargo terminal. Terminal 1 is used by low-cost domestic carriers, while Terminals 2 and 3 cater to both domestic and international flights. Terminal 3, which commenced operations in 2010, is the largest with a capacity to handle 34 million passengers annually.

To manage the increasing air traffic, a master plan for the construction of a fourth parallel runway next to the existing runway 11R/29L was approved in 2017. This new runway, along with the Eastern Cross Taxiways (ECT), aims to reduce flight duration and pollution. The fourth runway and the ECT were inaugurated in July 2023.

Runway 11L/29R is 4,400m long

Runway 11L/29R is one of the four runways at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA). At 4,400m long, it is one of the two longer runways at the airport, the other being Runway 11R/29L, which is 4,430m long. Runway 11L/29R is part of the airport's Phase 3A expansion project, which aims to make the facility future-ready and able to handle increased traffic movement.

The runway's construction was completed in September 2021, despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. The process was carried out in a phased manner, ensuring minimal disruption to the airport's operations. The runway is located on the southern side of the airport, parallel to the third runway (11/29).

The addition of Runway 11L/29R contributes to the airport's goal of becoming a net-zero carbon emission airport by 2030. Along with the inauguration of the Eastern Cross Taxiway (ECT), the runway will help to enhance operational efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. The ECT, a dual elevated taxiway, connects the northern and southern airfields on the eastern side of the airport, reducing taxiing time and enhancing the flyer experience.

The completion of Runway 11L/29R and the ECT underscores the airport's commitment to providing world-class aviation infrastructure and services while prioritising sustainable development. The runway and the ECT are expected to reduce CO2 emissions, improve airport operational efficiency, and enhance the flying experience for passengers.

Runway 10/28 is 3,813m long

Runway 10/28, also known as the second runway at Delhi Airport, is 3,813m long and 45m wide. The rehabilitation work on this runway was completed in December 2023 and it is now operational. The re-carpeting work on the runway began in September 2023, after the conclusion of the G20 Summit in Delhi. The entire length of the runway was milled and overlaid with Polymer Modified Bitumen (PMB), which can withstand heavy-duty traffic and extreme weather conditions.

The completion of Runway 10/28 is part of Delhi Airport's Phase 3A expansion project, which aims to make the facility future-ready. With the addition of this runway, Delhi Airport now has four operational runways, making it the only airport in India with this many runways. The other three runways are RW 09/27, RW 11R/29L, and RW 11L/29R.

The rehabilitation work on Runway 10/28 included the induction of additional taxiways to improve the passenger experience. The Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) also focused on the operationalisation of Airfield Ground Lighting (AGL) during this period. The completion of rehabilitation work will increase the passenger-handling capacity of Delhi Airport's three terminals to 100 million passengers per annum (MPPA), and the airside capacity will be enhanced to handle 140 MPPA.

The inauguration of Runway 10/28 is a significant milestone for Delhi Airport, as it moves towards becoming a net zero carbon emission airport by 2030. The runway will handle increased traffic movement, while the dual elevated cross taxiway will help reduce carbon emissions and enhance the flying experience for passengers.

Runway 09/27 is 2,816m long

Runway 09/27 is one of four runways at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), which is India's largest airport. Runway 09/27 is 2,816m long and 45m wide.

The airport has been working to improve its runways and taxiways to reduce congestion and improve the experience of passengers. In 2023, the airport's old main runway, 28/10, was closed for 75 days for recarpeting and minor repairs. The rehabilitation of Runway 10/28, also known as the second runway, was completed in December 2023, and the runway was handed over to Air Traffic Control (ATC) for commercial operations in February 2024.

In addition to runway improvements, the airport has also been working on a new elevated taxiway to reduce taxiing time and save fuel. The taxiway will allow aircraft to move between the two runways on either side of the main access road to Terminal 3, enhancing the airside capacity. The taxiing distance for aircraft at Delhi Airport will be reduced from 9km to 2km, and it is expected that this will smoothen the movement of flights and reduce inconvenience to passengers.

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