Delhi's IGI Airport Achieves Historic High in Aircraft Movements During AI Summit
New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport set a remarkable new benchmark on February 20, handling an unprecedented 1,550 aircraft movements in a single day. This peak occurred on the concluding day of the AI Summit hosted in the city, driven by the departure of numerous top business leaders and heads of state aboard private and charter jets.
Surge in General Aviation and VVIP Traffic
While the airport's average daily air traffic hovers around 1,500 movements, encompassing scheduled airlines, defense, VVIP, and business flights, the summit period from February 16 to 19 saw an increase of approximately 30 movements daily. The climax was reached on February 20, when general aviation—comprising private and charter aircraft—soared to 94 movements, nearly triple the usual daily average of 30 to 35.
The VVIP section at Palam contributed significantly by providing ample parking space for private aircraft that remained stationed throughout the summit, facilitating smooth departures for high-profile passengers.
Impeccable Coordination and Operational Excellence
Airport officials highlighted flawless coordination among key stakeholders, including air traffic control (ATC), the Indian Air Force, airside operations, Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), security agencies, and airlines. Senior controllers were stationed at the tower around the clock, with Delhi Airport GM (ATC) Tanvir-Ul Haque often working past midnight to ensure seamless operations.
"The significant VVIP movement was handled as per protocol by ensuring they don't face any delays either in air or on the ground," sources revealed. Notably, the airport's airside remained orderly, avoiding the traffic chaos that plagued other parts of Delhi during the summit.
Full Runway Utilization and Strategic Planning
In a rare occurrence, all four runways at IGIA were operational during the summit. The planned five-month closure of the third runway (11R/29L) for upgrades was postponed from February 16 to maintain 100% airport capacity, anticipating the traffic surge. DIAL was instructed to keep all runways open until February 23, with the closure now scheduled for the near future.
Comparison with Previous Mega Events
The AI Summit's air traffic surpassed that of the G20 summit in September 2023, partly due to increased scheduled passenger traffic. Currently, IGIA handles about 2.5 lakh passengers daily, with February 20 seeing a figure just shy of the all-time high. Unlike during G20, the airport avoided issues such as grounded aircraft from defunct airlines like GoAir and Jet Airways, or IndiGo planes awaiting Pratt & Whitney engines, allowing for smoother operations.
This record-setting performance underscores IGIA's growing capacity and efficiency in managing large-scale international events, solidifying its status as India's premier aviation hub.
