"Conversion of Delhi Airport's Terminal 2 to International Terminal Delayed to Early Next Year"

The conversion of Terminal 2 (T2) at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in Delhi into an all-international terminal has been postponed to early next year, sources familiar with the matter informed TOI.

Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) has opted to push back the conversion to avoid repeating challenges experienced during the winter season, when critical infrastructure like the main CAT III runway (28/10) was closed due to fog-related repairs. The conversion work for T2 is now slated to commence around April next year, following the winter season.

The expansion of Terminal 1 (T1) is expected to be operational by early June 2024, pending approvals from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). Initially, T2 was intended to remain operational for a few months post the expanded T1's opening to address any initial operational issues. However, to ensure minimal disruption for travelers, the conversion of T2 has been rescheduled for April next year. As per the plan, T2 is projected to be equipped to handle international flights by the winter of 2025-26.

India's air traffic has been on a significant growth trajectory, making it the world's fastest-growing major aviation market. While domestic capacity at IGI Airport has been bolstered with T1's expansion, international capacity is anticipated to face constraints as early as this fiscal year, with only Terminal 3 (T3) currently handling international flights.

To address the impending capacity crunch, DIAL proposed converting T2 into a temporary international terminal, with plans for its eventual demolition to make way for a new terminal.

DIAL CEO V K Jaipuriar had previously outlined various options to meet international demand, including short-term reconversion of T2, medium-term conversion of one of T3's domestic piers into an international one, and long-term demolition of T2 to construct a larger Terminal 4 (T4), expected to be completed by 2030 or 2032.

Airlines have urged DIAL to consider allowing T1 to handle international flights as well, citing the rapid traffic increase necessitating the construction of a new T1 before the originally planned T3 for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

The upcoming Noida airport, set to be operational before the year's end with a Terminal 1 capacity of 1.2 crore passengers annually, primarily for domestic flights, may also impact DIAL's future plans for IGI Airport.

ET