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Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) is taking steps to ease congestion at Terminal 2 (T2) and Terminal 3 (T3) following the temporary closure of Terminal 1 (T1). This closure was due to a canopy collapse incident last week. Ninety-three domestic flights from IndiGo and SpiceJet have been relocated from T1 to T2 and T3. To manage the increased traffic, six flights will be moved from T2 to T3, and flight schedules are being adjusted to ensure no more than ten departures per hour at T2. These changes will be effective by July 8, after consultations with airlines.
Both airlines and passengers have reported long queues at various points, including terminal entry, check-in, security, immigration, and baggage collection at T2 and T3. Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel are overworked due to screening passengers from flights. "CISF personnel are frisking passengers of 100 extra flights. This is not an ideal situation from the security point of view as there is a possibility of oversight due to human nature. You can't increase the entry gates and security checkpoints at such a short notice," sources said.
Flight Adjustments and Capacity Management
"DIAL will be shifting six flights from T2, which is choked, to T3 which still has some capacity to handle the load. The 1986-era T2 can handle a maximum of 10 departures per hour. Post the shifting of flights, some hours had more than 10. So the schedule is being tweaked to ensure peak movement per hour is at 10. These changes will be in effect latest by July 8 in consultation with airlines," the airport operator told Union aviation secretary Vumlunmang Vualnam.
The aviation ministry held a detailed review meeting on Wednesday evening to address the situation. "(I) had a meeting with all stakeholders (like) DGCA, AAI, BCAS, CISF, DIAL and airlines. All will work and coordinate to maintain the same number of flights at the Delhi airport smoothly," the aviation secretary said.
Impact on Passengers
Before the accident last Friday, IGIA's total capacity was 7.4 crore passengers annually, including 1.7 crore passengers annually (CPA) at T1 (all domestic), 1.5 CPA at T2 (all domestic), and 4.2 CPA at T3 (domestic and international). T1's capacity was projected to increase to 4.5 CPA with the opening of its expanded section. The mishap at T1 may impact nearly 40 lakh passengers, according to sources.
DIAL expects approval for debris removal from the collapsed canopy on Thursday after receiving a report from IIT Delhi investigating the incident that led to a cab driver's death. DIAL estimates that debris removal will take three to four weeks, keeping T1 closed for at least a month or longer.
Future Considerations
It remains uncertain if DIAL will reconsider its opposition to Hindon Airport's civil enclave handling non-regional connectivity scheme flights. Last month, Air India Express announced it would operate 28 weekly flights between Hindon and Bengaluru, Goa, and Kolkata starting August 1. However, the airline halted bookings for these flights just hours after making the announcement. DIAL had moved the Delhi High Court in January against the Centre's decision in October 2023 allowing Airports Authority of India to commence scheduled commercial flight operations at Hindon.
The aviation secretary emphasized minimizing inconvenience to passengers while ensuring smooth operations during this period of adjustment.
