Flight Delays at Delhi IGI Airport Due to Storm & Runway Work

Post by: Layla Badr

Flight operations at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport were thrown into serious trouble on Saturday due to a powerful thunderstorm on Friday evening and an ongoing runway closure that started earlier in the week. Both issues together caused major disruption for thousands of passengers.

According to Flightradar24, a popular flight tracking platform, around 498 flights were delayed on Saturday by 7:20 PM. Airport officials confirmed that more than 40 flights had to be diverted since Friday evening, and over 300 flights were delayed. Many passengers complained that there was no proper help or communication from the airlines during this difficult time.

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One of the main problems behind the mess is the planned shutdown of Runway 28/10, which has been closed for maintenance work since April 9. The airport authorities had already informed in February that the runway would be shut to upgrade the Instrument Landing System (ILS). This upgrade will help flights land safely during Delhi’s heavy fog in winter. But even though this closure was planned, it seems airlines and airport staff didn’t prepare properly for the problems it would cause in managing daily flight operations.

On top of this, Delhi and nearby areas were hit by strong winds and a severe thunderstorm on Friday evening, with wind speeds going above 80 km/hr. The storm caused more confusion and damage, adding to the existing difficulties at the airport. The weather department had given a yellow alert for Saturday too, expecting light rain and more thunderstorms, but it was cancelled later in the day.

Meanwhile, social media was filled with angry posts from stranded passengers. Many said there was no help, no clear updates, and basic services were missing. One passenger said, "After a 20-minute dust storm, there was chaos. No support or communication. It took me 15 hours just to get my luggage." Another flyer tagged Air India and said, "Our flight was 12 hours late. No one from Air India helped us. While we were suffering, the senior staff were nowhere to be seen. The delay happened because of poor planning by the airline."

By Saturday evening, the Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), saying: “Flight operations at Delhi Airport are normal, but some airlines are still affected by last night’s weather conditions. Our teams are working hard to minimize inconvenience.” They also advised travellers to keep checking their flight status for updates.

Still, the effects of Friday’s storm didn’t go away quickly. Delhi Airport, the busiest in the country, has been handling around 200 fewer flights every day since April 9 due to the runway closure. Experts say this situation could have been better managed if the airlines had made proper plans in advance.

Captain Mohan Ranganathan, a well-known aviation expert, criticized the airlines, saying they should have reduced the number of flights after being informed about the runway closure. "But they didn’t want to lose money, so they chose their profit over passengers’ comfort," he said.

Another expert, Mark D Martin of Martin Consulting, said the Delhi airport has three more runways, so one being closed should not have caused so much trouble. “It’s clear that the airlines didn’t plan properly for this closure,” he added.

A former airport official, who didn’t want to be named, explained that the main reason for the ongoing delays is the longer taxi time for aircraft. With one major runway closed, planes now have to use others that are farther from the terminal. This increases the time taken to reach the gate after landing. Because of that, passengers get off late, cleaning staff get on the plane later, and the next flight also gets delayed. Everything starts running late one after another.

While the airlines say they are working closely with the airport authorities and the weather department to fix things, none of them have cancelled any flights ahead of time. This shows that airlines are still trying to fly all scheduled flights, even though it’s getting harder every day.

An airline official, speaking anonymously, said, “All airlines are trying their best to reduce trouble for passengers. We are tracking flights in real-time, talking with airport teams, and giving updates to passengers regularly.”

Another person, close to the matter, said Air India had a tough morning on Saturday as several flights were still disturbed due to the storm. “There was some crowding at the airport early in the day, but things became better after 10 AM,” the official said.

The situation at Delhi Airport shows how a mix of bad weather and poor planning can create a travel nightmare for passengers. Many are now hoping that things will get back to normal soon and airlines will be better prepared in the future.

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