Delhi Airport Prepares for Peak Travel Season

Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) is taking proactive measures to manage the upcoming peak winter travel season by relocating some flights from Terminal 2 (T2) to Terminal 1 (T1). This move aims to alleviate congestion at T2, which has been operating beyond its capacity since June.

Initially, T1 had been handling 43 domestic flights daily, including 32 by IndiGo and 11 by SpiceJet. Sources now indicate that an additional 11 IndiGo flights have been shifted from T2 to T1. Both DIAL and IndiGo have been contacted for official confirmation and details on the number of flights affected.

In a recent tweet, IndiGo informed passengers that "a few of our flights have been moved from Terminal 2 to Terminal 1, Delhi. We’ve sent notifications regarding this change to the customers' registered contact details. Latest terminal details can also be checked on our website."

The decision to shift flights comes as T1, which was partially closed following an incident in June, has been operating at a fraction of its capacity since mid-August. The government has recently urged DIAL to commence repairs on T1. A repair-strengthening plan, prepared by Larsen & Toubro and reviewed by IIT Delhi, is currently in place.

This is the second consecutive winter of operational challenges at India's busiest airport. Last winter, issues with fog landings due to the absence of a CAT III instrument landing system on multiple runways caused disruptions. This year, the terminal-side capacity crunch, stemming from the June collapse, is the primary concern. Terminal 3 (T3) is currently overcrowded as it handles additional flights alongside T2, while the expanded T1 remains partially operational.