How Delhi manages 35 special aircraft, air traffic during BRICS summit

Behind the red carpets, motorcades and ceremonial welcome of BRICS leaders lies a closely coordinated air operation involving some 35 special aircraft, multiple airfields, controlled airspace and carefully timed movements to accommodate foreign dignitaries without disrupting regular commercial flights to Delhi.

The operation includes the Indira Gandhi International Airport, the Indian Air Force Technical Area Palam and other airports that are used to park visiting aircraft. The movement is being coordinated by the CISF, Air Force, aviation authorities, airport operator and other security agencies.

For regular passengers, airport operations begin with check-in at the terminal before boarding the aircraft via the aerobridge. VVIP movements are conducted separately. Ceremonial facilities are used for senior visitors such as ministers and other high-ranking dignitaries, while the highest-ranking visitors are processed through the Palam technical area.

The Palam facility allows VVIP aircraft to arrive outside the normal passenger terminal operations, with the Director and delegation moving directly to a separately secured ground layout.

A senior CISF official familiar with the arrangements said the aircraft-to-convoy shift is also being planned to prevent the final route from becoming predictable. “Several exits and vehicles are ready, with the exit eventually being used for the VVIP movement,” the source said.

More exercise also takes place in the air.

During normal VVIP movement in major cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad, the airspace is regulated for about three to four minutes to accommodate the special aircraft. As several foreign leaders flew in and out during the summit, those controlled windows were expanded and more widely coordinated to provide clear movement windows for special aircraft, the source said.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has imposed restrictions on non-scheduled flights within a radius of 300 km from Delhi from September 11 to 13. Regular commercial flights are an exception, while special flights with BRICS dignitaries and related flights may be operated with prior approval.

The restrictions apply mainly to unregistered private light aircraft whose movements are not part of the regular flight schedule. Such aircraft are subject to verification and specific conditions during the summit to reduce potential security risks, the source said.

Meanwhile, regular airlines are being assembled around the VVIP movements. Their arrival and departure times were adjusted, if necessary, about 10-15 minutes before the summit to avoid their movements coinciding with the special aircraft.

If an overlap does occur, the aircraft may be held in the air for some time or temporarily directed to land at another airport, depending on the operational situation and operational requirements.

Another part of the exercise is the parking of a special aircraft. Apart from Palam and Delhi airports, Noida International Airport, Safdarjung Airport, Hindon Airport and two other airports have been included in the broader parking plan.

The aircraft will also arrive in various configurations. According to a CISF source, around 70-75% of participating countries are expected to bring one dedicated aircraft, while 10-15% could bring two aircraft. A further 10-15% are expected to use scheduled flights.

Security operations will also extend to aircraft once they are on the ground. A CISF official said additional checks are being carried out during ground handling, including testing of two samples of jet fuel supplied to the aircraft, as part of measures to rule out tampering or other security concerns.

The wider airspace has also been tightened to limit other potential sources of disruption. During the summit, flight activities including light and micro light aircraft and unmanned aircraft were restricted within 300 km radius of Delhi.

The airport is staffed by CISF personnel under the aviation security framework laid down by the Civil Aviation Security Authority, while the Air Force manages traffic in the technical area and other agencies handle the diplomatic, intelligence, transport and road aspects of VVIP movements.

The result is a carefully segregated system in which dedicated aircraft can be received, parked and moved under increased security while regular Delhi aviation continues around them.

So the task of the agencies involved is not just to ensure the arrival of special aircraft, but to sequence every movement – in the air, on the ground and through the airport – so that the exceptional concentration of VVIP traffic does not disrupt the routine flow of commercial aviation.

Published – 12 Sep 2026 09:31 IST