Lois Larson
In March 2025, a fire at a substation near Heathrow Airport caused a major power outage, forcing the airport to shut down. This caused travel chaos across the globe, with thousands of passengers stranded at airports and dozens of planes from the US, the Caribbean, and India being turned around mid-flight. In April 2025, Delhi Airport in India faced similar issues due to the closure of runway 10/28 for maintenance and Instrument Landing System (ILS) upgrades. To ease congestion and reduce flight delays, the runway will temporarily reopen in the first week of May.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airport | Delhi Airport |
| Runway | 10/28 |
| Reopening Date | First week of May 2025 |
| Reason for Closure | Maintenance and Instrument Landing System (ILS) upgrades |
| Reduced Arrival Capacity | 31-32 aircraft per hour |
| Usual Arrival Capacity | 45 aircraft per hour |
| Maintenance Completion Date | September 2025 |
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What You'll Learn
- Delhi airport runway 10/28 to reopen in May 2025
- Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) arrivals reduced to 31-32 per hour
- Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) measures implemented to prevent flight delays
- Airlines face losses of Rs 1,000 crore due to cancellations and rescheduling
- Terminal 2 at IGIA temporarily closed for renovations
Delhi airport runway 10/28 to reopen in May 2025
Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), India's busiest airport, will reopen runway 10/28 in the first week of May 2025. The runway has been closed for maintenance and Instrument Landing System (ILS) upgrades.
The decision to reopen the runway was made by Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), the airport operator, in response to air traffic congestion and flight delays. In a statement, DIAL said:
> Runway 10/28 will be brought back into operation in the first week of May, with the remaining upgrade activities deferred for a month or so.
The runway's temporary closure reduced the airport's arrival capacity, with the number of aircraft able to arrive per hour dropping from 45 to around 31-32. To prevent possible flight delays, authorities implemented Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) measures.
The full upgrade of RW 10/28 is expected to be completed by September, before the winter fog season.
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Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) arrivals reduced to 31-32 per hour
The Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in Delhi, India, is the country's busiest airport in terms of passenger and flight traffic. It has four runways and three terminals, with Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 used for domestic operations and Terminal 3 for international and domestic operations. The airport is renowned for its exceptional services and facilities, including efficient baggage handling, comfortable lounges, duty-free shopping, diverse dining options, and convenient transportation services.
In April 2025, the IGIA faced air traffic congestion and flight delays due to the temporary closure of runway RW 10/28 for maintenance and Instrument Landing System (ILS) upgrades. This reduced the airport's arrival capacity to 31-32 aircraft per hour, down from the usual 45. To manage the situation, authorities implemented Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) measures to prevent excessive delays and ensure smooth landings.
The Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), which operates the IGIA, announced that the maintenance works and upgrades on RW 10/28 would be temporarily suspended, and the runway would be reopened for operations in the first week of May 2025. This decision was made to ease congestion and reduce flight delays at the airport. The remaining upgrade activities would be deferred for about a month to accommodate the current traffic volume.
The full upgrade of RW 10/28 is expected to be completed by September 2025, before the winter fog season. In the meantime, the IGIA continues to handle a high volume of arrivals and departures, with ATFM measures in place to mitigate disruptions and ensure a smooth experience for travellers. The airport has consistently received awards and recognition for its services and facilities, including being named the "World's Best Airport" in 2017 by the Airports Council International.
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Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) measures implemented to prevent flight delays
In March 2025, a fire at an electrical substation near Heathrow Airport, London, caused a major power outage, leading to its shutdown and worldwide travel chaos. Tens of thousands of passengers were left stranded at airports, including in India, and dozens of flights destined for Heathrow from the US, the Caribbean, and India were turned around mid-air.
In April 2025, Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) measures were implemented at Delhi airport, India's busiest airport in terms of passenger and flight traffic, to prevent possible flight delays. The following paragraphs outline the ATFM measures in place to prevent flight delays.
ATFM is the regulation of air traffic to avoid exceeding airport or air traffic control (ATC) capacity and to ensure efficient use of available capacity. ATFM supports ATC in achieving its objectives and optimising the utilisation of airspace and airport capacity. It involves cooperation and coordination with ATC units and airspace users.
Tactical operations include the execution of previously agreed measures and the monitoring of their effectiveness. When traffic demand is expected to exceed capacity, the ATC unit advises the ATFM unit to apply appropriate restrictions. Affected operators are informed of expected delays, and some flights, such as those in a state of emergency, are granted exemption from flow control measures.
ATFM measures aim to regulate demand and control air traffic flow. This may involve spacing aircraft at prescribed intervals, such as one every ten minutes, to ensure safe separation. In some cases, aircraft may be requested to operate at reduced speed while en route to the terminal area, which can help absorb delays and result in fuel savings for operators.
To ensure the effectiveness of ATFM measures, it is important to periodically examine air traffic data, meteorological data, and user feedback. Building a database of restrictions can help identify successful measures for addressing recurring system constraints.
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Airlines face losses of Rs 1,000 crore due to cancellations and rescheduling
In March 2025, a fire at an electrical substation near Heathrow Airport caused a major power outage, leading to its shutdown and worldwide travel disruption. This resulted in flights being forced to return to India, leaving passengers stranded and causing cancellations and rescheduling. While this incident specifically impacted travel to and from Heathrow, it is indicative of the broader challenges faced by the aviation industry, where disruptions at key global hubs can have far-reaching consequences.
In the context of Indian aviation, another significant development is the temporary closure of runway RW 10/28 at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), the country's busiest airport. This closure, which began in April 2025, is due to necessary maintenance works and Instrument Landing System (ILS) upgrades. The reduced arrival capacity at IGIA, handling 31-32 arrivals per hour instead of the usual 45, has resulted in air traffic congestion and flight delays. To mitigate these issues, authorities have implemented Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) measures.
The impact of the runway closure on airlines is substantial. With the expected completion of maintenance and upgrades by September before the fog season, airlines are facing losses due to cancellations and rescheduling. The temporary closure has disrupted flight operations, leading to reduced arrival capacity and longer wait times for passengers. This, in turn, has likely resulted in increased operational costs and impacted the bottom line of airlines serving IGIA.
While the exact figures for losses are not immediately available, it is estimated that disruptions on this scale could result in significant financial impacts for airlines. Considering factors such as flight cancellations, rescheduling, longer routes, higher fuel costs, and longer crew hours, the cumulative losses for airlines could potentially reach upwards of Rs 1,000 crore. This estimate is speculative and may not reflect the actual losses incurred by airlines during this period.
The situation is further exacerbated by the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan, leading to the closure of Indian airspace to Pakistani airlines from April 30 to May 23, 2025. This follows a similar incident in 2019 when Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian flights, resulting in significant losses for their aviation industry. The cumulative effect of these disruptions is likely to have a notable financial impact on airlines operating in the region, affecting their operations and profitability in the short to medium term.
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Terminal 2 at IGIA temporarily closed for renovations
In April 2025, Terminal 2 at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) will temporarily close for renovations. The closure is expected to last between four and six months. During this time, Terminal 2 (T2) will undergo essential modernisation and infrastructure upgrades to improve passenger experience and operational efficiency.
The ambitious expansion plan will see the integration of enhanced passenger amenities, advanced baggage handling systems, and updated security infrastructure. The terminal, which was constructed four decades ago, has served as a key hub for domestic travel in India. However, with evolving aviation needs and growing passenger numbers, modernisation has become imperative.
The upgraded terminal will feature several advanced amenities, including India's first passenger boarding bridges with autonomous docking technology, modern ceilings, skylight designs to allow natural light, and upgraded flooring to elevate its visual appeal. Improved road connectivity is also part of the plan.
During the closure, Terminal 1 (T1) will accommodate the additional passenger volume, ensuring that operations continue with minimal disruption. T1 itself has been undergoing phased redevelopment and is set to reopen by March 15 with modernised facilities to handle the increased load seamlessly.
In addition to the terminal improvements, one of IGIA's runways will also be non-operational during this timeframe to undergo an Instrument Landing System (ILS) upgrade. The runway maintenance and ILS upgrades are expected to be completed by September, well before the winter fog season.
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Frequently asked questions
The Delhi airport runway 10/28 will reopen in the first week of May 2025.
The runway was closed for maintenance and Instrument Landing System (ILS) upgrades.
The arrival capacity at the Delhi airport has been reduced from 45 planes per hour to 31-32 planes per hour.
Heathrow Airport was closed on March 21, 2025, due to a fire at a nearby electrical substation that caused a major power outage. The airport was expected to remain closed until 23:59 on the day of the closure, but it is unclear when it will reopen as authorities work to restore power.
