The upcoming G20 Summit, slated to take place in the national capital of Delhi, is poised to have a profound impact on regular flight operations at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. Between September 7 and September 10, it is estimated that more than 250 flights per day will face cancellations, potentially causing significant disruptions to the airport’s usual operations. Over the course of these four days, it is expected that up to 250 flights daily could be grounded, potentially affecting around 1,000 flights in total.
To navigate this challenging situation, the Ministry of Civil Aviation is gearing up to issue comprehensive guidelines in the near future. The central focus of these guidelines will be to ensure the smooth execution of the G20 Leader Summit. The government’s primary objective is to safeguard unimpeded airspace and runway access to accommodate the logistical requirements of the G20 leaders and thereby ensure the seamless operation of the event.
These measures are a result of the convergence of two key factors: security concerns and operational necessities. The government is committed to creating a secure and efficient environment for the G20 summit, hence the enforcement of these regulations.
In a statement, Delhi Airport clarified that the recent reports of flight cancellations are unrelated to aircraft parking. The necessary parking spaces have already been allocated. Instead, it appears that airlines have opted to cancel flights, likely due to anticipated traffic constraints associated with the G20 summit.
As of now, Delhi Airport has received cancellation requests for approximately 80 departing and 80 arriving domestic flights, spanning three days. This represents roughly six percent of the airport’s typical domestic operations. Importantly, these restrictions will not extend to international flights.
With just a few days remaining until the headline G20 Summit in India, scheduled for September 9 to 10, the Delhi government has taken a significant step. In preparation for the summit, it has declared a holiday for educational institutions, as well as both public and private offices, including banks, within the city. This holiday period is set to be in effect from September 8 to 10.
The G20 Summit in Delhi is expected to cause substantial disruptions to flight operations at IGI Airport, with potential cancellations affecting up to 1,000 flights. The government is actively working to issue guidelines to ensure the event’s smooth execution, prioritising the security and logistical needs of the G20 leaders. The declaration of a holiday by the Delhi government further underscores the significance of this international summit.
