The fourth runway and dual elevated Eastern Cross Taxiways (ECT) at Delhi Airport have now been made operational. This development will increase the capacity and operational effectiveness of the nation’s busiest airport, which is anticipated to soon handle 109 million passengers annually.

The country’s civil aviation industry is at a turning point and the start of the boom phase, according to Jyotiraditya Scindia, minister of civil aviation, who also declared the opening of the fourth runway and ECT.

It is the first airport in the nation to have four runways and an elevated ECT, and its name is Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA). Every day, it manages over 1,500 aircraft movements.

The fourth runway and terminal expansion, which are anticipated to be finished soon, will expand Delhi Airport’s capacity to handle 109 million passengers annually, according to Scindia.

He stated that the current annual capacity is 70 million passengers and stressed that Delhi airport will even surpass Atlanta airport in terms of capabilities.

The airport will be able to accommodate more flights as a result of the fourth runway. At the opening of the fourth runway and the ECT, Scindia stated that it will raise throughput from the existing level of 1,400 to 1,5000 aircraft movements to around 2,000.

Demand for air travel is rising, and in June, domestic air passenger traffic increased by almost 19% compared to the same month last year, reaching roughly 1.25 crore.

According to Scindia, the operationalization of the ECT will reduce the taxiing time for aircraft from 20 to about 10 to 12 minutes.

Speaking of the ECT, he added that while automobiles will be driving on the road below, planes will be taxiing on the ECT.

He stated that two wide-body aircraft, such as the A380 and B 777, could utilise the ECT concurrently.

An Air India aircraft received a formal water cannon salute to commemorate the fourth runway’s opening. Flight AI 821 departed for Srinagar from Delhi.
Source- Travel biz
Link- https://travelbizmonitor.com/scindia-inaugurates-delhi-airports-fourth-runway-and-eastern-cross-taxiways/