Delhi Airport’s third runway reopens after seven-month upgrade
The third runway at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport is back in service following a seven-month rehabilitation that included resurfacing and new taxiway construction.
Delhi’s third runway, runway 11R/29L, has been recommissioned after a seven-month rehabilitation that started in February 2026. The project involved resurfacing, permanent threshold displacement, a new Rapid Exit Taxiway (RET Z1), and upgrades to airfield lighting and related civil infrastructure. DIAL confirmed that all required inspections, validations and regulatory approvals have been secured.
The airport, which handled 26.4 million passengers in the first four months of FY27, is targeting an increase to 125 million annual passengers by 2032, with the first expansion phase raising capacity to 116 million by April 2030. CEO Pradeep Panicker highlighted the runway’s role in boosting operational efficiency and meeting future aviation demand. The runway has been in continuous service since 2008, with this being its most extensive upgrade to date.
Why it matters
The reopened runway expands Delhi Airport’s capacity, supporting growing passenger numbers and improving operational resilience.
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