Delhi IGI Airport to Reopen Runway RW 10/28 on September 16 – Boosting 1,200+ Daily Flights
Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport to reopen runway RW 10/28 on September 16, boosting capacity for 1,000+ daily flights and easing passenger delays
New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport operator, Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), is expected to reopen its runway RW 10/28 for operations from 16 September 2025, after completing the upgradation works, reported the news agency PTI, citing people aware of the development.
The upgradation work of runway RW 10/28 was postponed in May due to congestion issues, and the runway remained closed for three months from 15 June 2025, according to the agency report.
According to the agency report, the Instrument Landing System (ILS) on the RW 10/28 was being upgraded to make the runway CAT III compliant. This CAT III compliance will allow flights to operate at low visibility conditions during foggy weather scenarios.
According to GlobeAir data, there are three types of approaches while an aircraft makes a landing: Category (CAT) I, Category (CAT) II, or Category (CAT) III.
These three approaches represent different levels of precision instrument approaches based on visibility and decision height.
According to the data, the CAT I is the basic form of landing approach, which requires a decision height of at least 200 feet and a runway visual range of 550 meters or more.
The CAT II approach of an aircraft is with lower minimums for visibility and decision height. A decision height is the altitude where a pilot decided to carry forward with the landing or cancel the approach to re-attempt a landing.
Finally, a CAT III approach denotes almost zero visibility landings in some cases.
According to the agency report, the Delhi International Airport Ltd-operated Indira Gandhi International Airport handles nearly 1,450 flight movements every day with the help of its four runways — RW 09/27, RW 11R/29L, RW 11L/29R and RW 10/28.
New Delhi, September 9, 2025 — In a significant development for air travelers, the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in Delhi is set to reopen its key runway RW 10/28 on September 16. The reopening is expected to ease congestion, improve flight punctuality, and enhance overall passenger experience at one of the busiest airports in Asia.
Runway 10/28 is one of the primary operational runways at IGI Airport, handling a major portion of both domestic and international traffic. Its closure for maintenance and upgrades over the past few months had placed additional pressure on the airport’s remaining runways, often leading to flight delays, congestion, and schedule adjustments.
With the reopening, the airport will be able to handle over 1,200 daily flights, providing much-needed relief to passengers and airlines.
Reduced flight delays thanks to higher runway availability.
Smoother air traffic management during peak hours.
Improved capacity for both domestic and international airlines.
Enhanced passenger comfort with more on-time departures and arrivals.
Delhi’s IGI Airport is currently ranked among the top 10 busiest airports worldwide and serves as a crucial aviation hub for South Asia. With an annual handling capacity of 70+ million passengers, the reopening of RW 10/28 strengthens the airport’s ability to support India’s rapidly growing aviation sector.
Airport authorities confirmed that the runway has undergone extensive maintenance, including resurfacing, lighting upgrades, and safety enhancements. These improvements are designed to meet global aviation safety standards and ensure seamless operations for years to come.
The reopening on September 16 comes just ahead of the festive season and peak travel months, a time when domestic and international passenger numbers see a sharp rise. Aviation experts believe the move will significantly boost flight efficiency, reduce operational bottlenecks, and support India’s ambition of becoming a global aviation hub.
