New Delhi plans for fourth runway
Almost 40 million passengers travelled through New Delhi’s airport in the past 12 months, according to Delhi International Airport Ltd’s chief operating officer Marcel Hungerbhueler.
The Indira Gandhi International Airport has undergone significant developments in order to accommodate bigger aircrafts such as the Airbus 380, and a bigger capacity of travellers.
The airport is home to three runways, and, as Hungerbhueler explained to Travel Today during a media tour of the operations and control centre, can accommodate up to 86 movements per hour.
The runway was built in 2009, and took the annual passenger movement from 16 million to 39.4 million this year, marking a 10% growth in passenger arrival in 2014.
The newest runway also took the movement capacity per hour from 32 to 75 on average.
Currently, the airport operates with a 50/50 split, as there is no eastern cross taxi space for aircraft to cross from one runway to another.
As a result, aircraft that land on one runway must also depart from the same runway side.
This is set to change in the future, however, with Hungerbhueler saying the airport has plans to build a fourth parallel runway parallel, which will allow for much greater movements.
While there is no confirmed date for this plan, Hungerbhueler says it will cater for 110 movements per hour, a significant climb from the current maximum of 86.
Delhi International Airport Limited is a private company, with Fraport and Malaysia Airlines managing 10% of shareholdings, while the Government holds a further 26%.
The airport operates with 55 airlines, and in the last 12 months, saw 324,000 movements, or between 850 and 900 movements each day.
A recent change in procedure saw the control centre also require a final update from aircraft 10 miles out from landing, in order to ensure enhanced accuracy and create a more efficient airport system.
“Any minute on the runway should be used,” Hungerbhueler stressed, adding that only three aircraft are ever waiting on runways so as to save fuel and enhance efficiency.
The “masterplan”, according to Hungerbhueler, is to see the 40 million annual passengers recorded this year grow into 110 million passengers by 2036, as well as becoming the third largest aviation market by 2020, through methods like using low cost carriers and allowing foreign direct investments in domestic airlines.
And while New Delhi’s international airport steams ahead with future plans, the national carrier of Air India is set to receive a “new face”, according to Minister for Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation, Dr Mahesh Sharma.
The Minster admits that Air India is “in trouble” in its current state, but that his team is working to develop measures to save the airline.
At a recent press conference, Minister Sharma stated, “The government has no business to do business,” and when asked, said it was “not possible for governments to pump money into struggling airlines.”
Sharma did however promise that Indian aviation in general would receive a “new shape” in the next six months, particularly in its airports.
He said his team was working towards upgrading the country’s airports and improving cleanliness, as well as enhancing each airport’s online capabilities.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
airport india new delhi new delhi international airportLatest News
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