Delhi IGI Airport’s Runway 11R/29L, commonly known as Runway Three, will remain closed for landings and take-offs from today until the next three months for rehabilitation work, according to a circular issued by the Airports Authority of India.
In accordance with the dates in the notice, the track will be out of service from Wednesday 25 February to Monday 25 May 2026.
The runway will remain closed during the airport’s peak summer travel season. However, the airport operator had earlier told The Times of India that the closure is unlikely to have any significant impact on flight operations.
How many runways does Delhi Airport have?
A TOI report quoted an airport official as saying that on an average, 1,520 flights are operated daily, including arrivals and departures. However, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), which operates IGI Airport, had earlier said that the airport’s planned capacity would be maintained at 1,514 movements per day during the closure period.
New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport has four runways: 27/9, 28/10, 29R/11L and 11R/29L. Last year, when runway 28/10 at the airport was closed for repairs, around 200 flights were affected daily, according to the report.
Why is the runway closed?
The reconstruction will include resurfacing the runway, construction of a new quick-exit taxiway and installation of a new instrument landing system, which would require completion of the specified closure period.
“Due to the closure of RWY 29L/11R, long-haul and ultra-long-haul flights may require a specific departure path due to performance requirements. Such requests may be considered if feasible,” the press release said.
To ensure that the closure instructions are strictly followed, according to the Airports Authority of India, a statutory body of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the tower warden is responsible.
