Delhi airport slots: DIAL grants short-term capacity to foreign airlines amid West Asia disruptions

Delhi airport operator DIAL allotted extra flight slots to some foreign airlines for April and May. The step followed capacity limits after flight changes linked to the West Asia crisis, sources said. Indira Gandhi International Airport is India’s biggest airport. One source said KLM and Air Canada were among carriers receiving temporary additional slots.

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Air travel faced disruption after the West Asia crisis began on February 28. The crisis involved the US, Israel and Iran. Airlines faced airspace curbs and tougher operations. Many carriers reduced flights to, from, or across the region. As a result, some services were rerouted, delayed, or cancelled.

Delhi airport slots and West Asia crisis impact

DIAL shifted some slots away from Indian and Gulf-based airlines for a limited period. These slots went to other airlines for two to three weeks, the report said. DIAL said it planned to keep such steps while the war continued. The aim was to reduce disruption to airport operations.

S&P Global Ratings said the Iran war was likely to have a limited effect on Delhi passenger volumes. The agency said this applied for now. The report estimated exposure linked to the region. About 28 per cent of international passengers, and 7-8 per cent of total passenger traffic, were connected to the region.

The report said DIAL faced major disruption during the first week of the conflict. Passenger volumes later recovered after airlines changed routes. Airlines moved transit flights away from Middle East airspace. The report said transiting flights made up 25 per cent - 30 per cent of traffic between Delhi airport and the Middle East.

Precise details on the additional slots were not available immediately. The sources did not state the number of slots or the exact timings. The slots were described as short-term and aimed at meeting demand. The source said the extra allocation covered April and May.

British Airways flights and West Asia crisis disruption

British Airways also announced extra services from India to meet demand during the disruption. The airline said it would add flights from Delhi and Mumbai for a short term. From April 7 to May 31, it planned a third daily Delhi to London Heathrow service. From May 15 to 31, Mumbai to London Heathrow also had a third daily flight.

The temporary slot changes showed how airlines and airports adjusted to ongoing airspace limits. DIAL’s measures covered a short window and focused on keeping traffic moving. Reports indicated passenger volumes improved after route changes. Airlines continued to adjust schedules as disruption linked to the West Asia crisis persisted.

With inputs from PTI