New runway at IGI becomes commercially operational

New Delhi: A month after its inauguration, the newly constructed third runway of the Indira Gandhi International Airport here became commercially operational today with the landing of a British Airways plane early this morning.
"The third runway, all of 4,430 metres long, became operational with the landing of a British Airways plane from Heathrow at 6.20 am," a Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) spokesperson said.
The Civil Aviation Ministry yesterday, in a meeting chaired by Joint Secretary K N Srivastava, had decided to make the new runway (29-11) commercially operational from 6 am this morning.
The runway, 4,430-metres long and 75-metres wide, can handle wide-bodied aircraft like Airbus 380 or Antonov 226 and will also ensure that there is less air congestion.
The ministry had decided that the new runway would become operational with the landing of an Air India plane but it landed third as it was given clearance from the Air Traffic Control based on the actual position in the sky.
25/09/08 Press Trust of India

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Categories: Airports Sep 2008, New Sep 2008