New Delhi – The Delhi Airport chaos reached unprecedented levels on Sunday as approximately 68% of all flights experienced significant delays, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and frustrated. According to officials at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, this massive disruption resulted from a perfect storm of factors: poor planning, months of miscommunication between stakeholders, and an untimely shift in wind direction that severely impacted runway operations.
At the heart of the Delhi Airport chaos is a critical runway closure. Runway 10/28 has been shut since April 8 for essential Instrument Landing System (ILS) upgrades, reducing the airport’s operational capacity during the peak summer travel season. Despite warnings issued four months ago about potential disruptions, airlines reportedly made “minimal or no changes” to their flight schedules, exacerbating the situation.
Official Response to the Delhi Airport Chaos
Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), the airport operator, issued a statement on X (formerly Twitter) addressing the Delhi Airport chaos:
“The closure of Runway 10/28 since 8th April for essential Instrument Landing System (ILS) upgradation, was planned well in advance in consultation with all relevant stakeholders and based on historical wind patterns over 4 months ago… it was agreed amongst all stakeholders, including Airlines and ATC [air traffic control] that there will be temporary capacity constraints for arrivals.”
DIAL further explained that during such situations, “Airlines are to reschedule or cancel flights at short notice in interest of passenger safety and convenience… However, there were minimal to no changes made. Unfortunately, this limited action/non-action has led to significant operational challenges for all the stakeholders including Delhi airport and ATC and in the end impacted the passengers significantly.”
The Scale of Delhi Airport Chaos in Numbers
The Delhi Airport chaos affected an astounding number of flights on Sunday. According to flight-tracking service Flightradar24, as of 11:30 PM:
- 501 departures were delayed
- 384 arrivals were delayed
- Departures were delayed by an average of 60 minutes
- Arrivals faced even longer delays, averaging 75 minutes
This represents just over 68% of the approximately 1,300 flights the airport typically handles each day, highlighting the severe impact of the Delhi Airport chaos on operations.
High-Profile Criticism Spotlights Delhi Airport Chaos
The Delhi Airport chaos gained significant attention when Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah took to social media to express his frustration early Sunday morning. Abdullah did not mince words, stating: “Delhi airport is a bloody shit show (excuse my French but I’m in no mood to be polite). 3 hours in the air after we left Jammu we get diverted to Jaipur & so here I am at 1 in the morning on the steps of the plane getting some fresh air. I’ve no idea what time we will leave from here.”
This high-profile criticism brought additional scrutiny to the ongoing Delhi Airport chaos and highlighted the real-world impact on travelers, including government officials.
Understanding the Technical Aspects Behind the Delhi Airport Chaos
Runway Configuration and Capacity
To fully comprehend the Delhi Airport chaos, it’s important to understand the airport’s runway configuration. Indira Gandhi International Airport operates four runways:
- 27/09 (one of the older runways)
- 28/10 (the runway currently closed for upgrades)
- 29L/11R
- 29R/11L (the newest runway, operational since 2023)
On a typical day without disruptions, Delhi Airport can handle up to 46 arrivals per hour. However, the current Delhi Airport chaos has significantly reduced this capacity.
Wind Direction’s Critical Role in the Delhi Airport Chaos
A key factor contributing to the Delhi Airport chaos is the seasonal shift in wind direction. When the airport operates with westerly winds:
- Runway 27 operates in mixed mode
- Runway 29 is used for departures
- Runway 29L handles arrivals
- Combined capacity reaches 74 flights per hour
However, during easterly winds (the current situation):
- Runway 09 and 11L handle departures
- Runway 11R manages arrivals
- Capacity decreases to around 72 flights per hour
- With only one runway available for arrivals, the effective arrival capacity drops dramatically
This wind direction issue has significantly amplified the Delhi Airport chaos, as explained by a former AAI official: “When Runway 11L is used for departures and 11R for arrivals, and runway 09 is also used only for departures, the flight paths are not fully separate. So, there must be a gap of 100 to 110 seconds between each arriving flight on Runway 11R, which limits the number of arrivals to about 32 per hour.”
Timeline of Events Leading to the Delhi Airport Chaos
The Delhi Airport chaos didn’t happen overnight. A series of events and decisions over several months contributed to the current situation:
December 2024: Initial Planning
- Key aviation stakeholders began discussions to minimize potential weather-related disruptions
- DIAL anticipated reduced runway capacity and possible flight cancellations due to planned upgrades
- DIAL sought initial approvals from the civil aviation ministry
January 2025:
- DIAL formally informed stakeholders about the runway work
- DIAL claimed the runway closure would not impact flight operations
- DIAL sought approvals from both DGCA and AAI on January 15
February 2025:
- Approvals for runway work were granted
- Runway 28/10 had just been reopened after being shut for re-carpeting from September 2023
March 2025:
- A meeting on March 4 involved DIAL, AAI, the civil aviation ministry, and airline representatives
- DIAL’s mitigation plan was discussed
- Airlines were informed about IMD’s forecast predicting an increase in easterly wind conditions
- March and April: approximately 30% of flights were expected to operate in easterly mode
- May and June: this was projected to increase to 50%
April 2025:
- April 8: Runway 28/10 was closed for ILS upgrades to CAT III B standards
- April 15: Terminal 2 was closed with its 46,000 passengers and 270,280 flights shifted to the expanded Terminal 1
- April 21: The Delhi Airport chaos reached critical levels with 68% of flights delayed
Concurrent Factors Intensifying the Delhi Airport Chaos
The Delhi Airport chaos was not caused by a single factor but rather by multiple concurrent issues:
- Runway Closure: The shutdown of Runway 28/10 for ILS upgrades reduced capacity at a critical time
- Terminal Changes: The closure of Terminal 2 on April 15 and the shifting of its operations to Terminal 1 added operational complexity during an already challenging period
- Seasonal Wind Shift: The pre-monsoon change in wind patterns from westerly to easterly further reduced runway capacity
- Peak Summer Travel: All these changes occurred during the busy summer travel season when passenger volumes are typically higher
- Lack of Schedule Adjustments: Despite warnings, airlines reportedly failed to adjust their schedules accordingly
The combination of these factors created the perfect conditions for the current Delhi Airport chaos.
Relief on the Horizon for Delhi Airport Chaos
In response to the Delhi Airport chaos, DIAL has announced plans to temporarily suspend the upgrade work:
“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 operator stated.
Additionally, a senior IMD official provided some hope for improvement, stating that the wind direction is expected to shift back to westerly within two days. “Every time a western disturbance hits the western Himalayas, wind direction temporarily shifts to easterly. This is normal. As for how operations are affected, that’s for the airport authorities to determine,” the official explained.
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These developments suggest that some relief from the Delhi Airport chaos may be on the horizon, though passengers may continue to face disruptions in the immediate future.
Expert Opinions on the Delhi Airport Chaos
Aviation experts have offered various perspectives on the Delhi Airport chaos and who bears responsibility:
Aviation safety expert Mohan Ranganathan placed the onus primarily on the airlines: “The airport operator shares its plans with stakeholders as per standard procedures. It’s the airlines who should have trimmed their operations to avoid disruption,” he said. Ranganathan added, “A four-month closure of a major runway is a long time for a hub like Delhi. DGCA, as the regulator, should have revisited the summer schedule and possibly issued a revised one.”
However, a former airline official provided a different perspective on the Delhi Airport chaos: “No airline would want to lose business. Advance planning should have included the cancellation of some flights by the airlines, but no airline wants its revenue to be severely impacted.” The official also noted, “However, such massive delays might also be causing them significant losses.”
Some officials suggested that the upgrade work causing the Delhi Airport chaos could have been phased. Industry experts disagreed, explaining that the nature of the work—milling the runway surface and installing inset lights—required it to be completed in one go. They added that the March to June window was optimal for such work, as it avoids both fog in winter and heavy rains during the monsoon.
Communication Failures Contributing to Delhi Airport Chaos
A critical aspect of the Delhi Airport chaos appears to be communication failures between various stakeholders. During the March 4 meeting led by AAI Chairman Vipin Kumar, all stakeholders were reportedly made aware of the shift in wind patterns and advised to plan their operations accordingly.
Airlines were also specifically warned that delays and diversions during easterly mode were inevitable. They were encouraged to review and adjust their flight schedules every two weeks based on actual operating conditions and unscheduled flight movements to minimize cancellations.
Despite these warnings, the necessary adjustments were apparently not made, contributing significantly to the Delhi Airport chaos currently being experienced.
Impact on Passengers Amid Delhi Airport Chaos
The human cost of the Delhi Airport chaos has been substantial. Thousands of passengers have been affected, with many experiencing:
- Extended waits at the airport
- Missed connections
- Diverted flights to other cities
- Overnight stays in unplanned locations
- Significant disruption to travel plans
- Financial losses from missed bookings and appointments
Personal stories, like that of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, highlight the real-world consequences of the Delhi Airport chaos for travelers. Many passengers have taken to social media to express their frustration, sharing stories of extended delays, poor communication, and difficult conditions.
The Technical Upgrade Behind the Delhi Airport Chaos
The work being done on Runway 28/10 that has contributed to the Delhi Airport chaos is not routine maintenance but a significant upgrade to enhance its Instrument Landing System (ILS) to CAT III B standards. This upgrade is designed to help the runway better cope with fog during winter months.
CAT III B equipment allows aircraft to land in extremely low visibility conditions, down to a runway visual range of just 50 meters. This improvement will be particularly valuable during Delhi’s notorious winter fog season, when flight operations are often severely impacted.
The timing of the upgrade was planned to ensure completion before the winter of 2025, which explains why the work was scheduled during the current period despite it coinciding with increased summer travel. The Delhi Airport chaos is thus partially a consequence of attempting to improve future winter operations.
Leadership Changes and Their Role in Delhi Airport Chaos
Adding another layer of complexity to the Delhi Airport chaos, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) experienced a leadership change during the critical planning period. This transition may have contributed to oversight issues and communication gaps between regulatory authorities and other stakeholders.
When leadership changes occur during critical operational planning periods, continuity and follow-through can sometimes be compromised, potentially contributing to the current Delhi Airport chaos.
Historical Context of Delhi Airport Operations
This is not the first time Delhi Airport has faced operational challenges, though the current Delhi Airport chaos appears to be particularly severe. Runway 28/10 had previously been closed for re-carpeting from September 2023 to February 2024, just two months before the current closure began.
Delhi Airport typically handles about 1,300 flights daily, making it one of the busiest airports in Asia. Any reduction in capacity, therefore, has far-reaching implications, as evidenced by the current Delhi Airport chaos.
Meteorological Factors Influencing the Delhi Airport Chaos
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had forecasted the increase in easterly wind conditions that has exacerbated the Delhi Airport chaos. According to their predictions:
- March and April: Approximately 30% of flights were expected to operate in easterly mode
- May and June: This percentage was projected to increase to 50%
This seasonal shift, driven by pre-monsoon weather patterns, was a known factor that should have been incorporated into operational planning. The failure to adequately account for these meteorological conditions has contributed significantly to the Delhi Airport chaos.
Regulatory Oversight Questions
The Delhi Airport chaos raises important questions about regulatory oversight. As aviation safety expert Mohan Ranganathan pointed out, the DGCA, as the regulator, could have taken a more proactive role by revisiting and possibly revising the summer schedule in light of the planned runway closure and anticipated capacity constraints.
This suggests a potential gap in regulatory oversight that may have contributed to the current Delhi Airport chaos. The question remains whether more stringent regulatory intervention could have prevented or mitigated the situation.
Final Remarks
As the Delhi Airport chaos continues to unfold, several factors offer hope for improvement in the coming days and weeks:
- The expected shift back to westerly winds within two days should help increase operational capacity
- DIAL’s decision to bring Runway 10/28 back into operation in early May
- The deferral of remaining upgrade activities for at least a month
However, the Delhi Airport chaos also highlights systemic issues that need addressing to prevent similar situations in the future:
- Improved communication and coordination between airport operators, airlines, and regulatory authorities
- More proactive schedule adjustments when capacity constraints are anticipated
- Better contingency planning for seasonal weather patterns
- Clearer regulatory guidance during major infrastructure upgrades
As Delhi Airport works to resolve the current crisis, the lessons learned from this Delhi Airport chaos will hopefully lead to more robust systems and protocols that can better handle the complexities of modern aviation operations at one of India’s busiest air hubs.
