Temporary Shutdown: Delhi Airport’s T1 Closure Update

Delhi Airport’s T1 Shutdown: What You Need to Know

Last week, Terminal 1 (T1) at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) was temporarily closed after a canopy at the old departure forecourt partially collapsed due to heavy rain. It is expected to reopen in two to three months.

The collapse, which occurred during the heaviest June downpour in over 80 years, resulted in one fatality, eight injuries, and damage to four cars. The Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) spokesperson attributed the collapse to the record-breaking heavy winds and rain. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has requested structural engineers from IIT Delhi to assess the situation, which is likely to take nearly a month. After the assessment, the decision to resume operations at T1 will be made.

Following the incident, the entire airport canopy may need to be rebuilt, as a portion of the structure collapse often necessitates rebuilding the entire structure. DIAL has formed cross-functional teams to evaluate the situation and ensure passenger safety and convenience. Meanwhile, IndiGo and SpiceJet, which were operating domestic flights at Terminal 1, have shifted their operations to T2 and T3.

The operations at T2, which previously handled flights from IndiGo, SpiceJet, Air Akasa, and Go Air, are not under much pressure following the shift. The terminal can comfortably accommodate the traffic from IndiGo split between T2 and T3 due to available slots and adjustments made after Go Air ceased operations and Air Akasa's limited fleet.