Delhi Airport to reopen third runway on Sept. 20 after seven-month overhaul

Delhi International Airport’s 11R/29L runway will return to service on Sept. 20 following resurfacing, pavement strengthening, a rapid-exit taxiway and upgraded lighting and navigation systems. The reopening supports the airport’s capacity for more than 1,300 daily flight movements and 106 million annual passengers.

— Source publishedSat, 19 Sept, 2026, 17:59 IST·First seen Sat, 19 Sept, 2026, 18:24 IST·Source NDTV Profit

What happened

Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) · Delhi Airport’s third runway, 11R/29L, will reopen on September 20 after a seven-month rehabilitation involving

Key facts

  • Runway 11R/29L
  • Nearly seven months of closure
  • Work began in February 2026
  • More than 1,300 daily flight movements
  • Four runways

What changed

Delhi Airport’s third runway, 11R/29L, will reopen on September 20 after a seven-month rehabilitation involving resurfacing, pavement strengthening, a rapid-exit taxiway, and upgraded lighting and navigation systems.

Why this matters

Delhi Airport’s restored third runway should lift terminal passenger flow and improve the reliability of airport retail and F&B trading from Sept. 20.

What to watch

  • Daily flight movements and on-time performance versus pre-reopening levels.
  • Airline schedule additions, especially international frequencies and wide-body deployments.
  • Security, immigration and baggage processing wait times during peak banks.
  • Airside retail sales per passenger, F&B transaction counts and average dwell time.
  • Weather-related disruption rates during the first two months of operations.