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Data source: OurAirports (2026-09-01 Snapshot) · Methodology & Verification →

Indira Gandhi International Airport

Compiled by Bill Gao

New Delhi, Delhi (National Capital Territory) (India)

IATA: DEL ICAO: VIDP

Longest Active Runway

14,534 ft

4,430 meters

Field Elevation

777 ft

237 m MSL

Runway Inventory

4 active

Lighted / Paved

Coordinates & Class

28.5556°, 77.0952°

LARGE AIRPORT

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Multi-Universe Rankings & Statistical Standing

How ranks work →

RunwayFacts Published Dataset

#16 of 650

In curated primary commercial index

Global Commercial Universe

#30 of 7558

Top 0.4% percentile worldwide

National Standing (India)

#1 of 26 in IN

#1 of 153 in full national registry

vs Large Airport Median

+45.3%

Compared to 10,000 ft baseline

💡 DEL in numbers: 14,534 ft longest runway · #16 of 650 published · #30 of 7,558 worldwide (top 0.4%) · #1 in India.

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Editorial Aerodrome Deep Dive: Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL)

Curated Aerodrome Profile

Indira Gandhi International Airport is India's preeminent aviation megahub. Its quad-runway layout accommodates over 1,400 flights per day. Runway 11L/29R at 14,567 ft is one of the longest in Asia, ensuring that widebody aircraft departing for the US East Coast can rotate safely during scorching summer pre-monsoon heat. Advanced automated baggage handling and triple-complex taxiways support Air India and IndiGo's massive international expansion.

Runway Layout & Magnetic Alignments

Four active parallel and semi-parallel runways: 09/27 (9,229 ft), 10/28 (12,500 ft), 11L/29R (14,567 ft / 4,440 m), and newly opened 11R/29L (14,436 ft / 4,400 m).

Expansion Milestones & Predecessor Facilities

Originally RAF Station Palam in WWII; transferred to civil administration in 1962. Privatized under GMR Group in 2006, opening the flagship Terminal 3 in 2010 and fourth runway in 2023, creating South Asia's first four-runway mega-hub.

Regional Differentiation & Cluster Role

Busiest airport in India, operating alongside historical Hindon Air Force Station (VIDX, 17 NM northeast) which accommodates regional UDAN flights.

Data Nuances & Operational Quirks

Plagued by severe winter radiation smog and fog between December and February, requiring extensive Category IIIb ILS operations and GPS-based surface movement radar.

📚 Official Aerodrome Sourcing: Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) · Airports Authority of India (AAI) Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP)

Verification Methodology →

🔬 Operational & Aerodrome Engineering Comparative Analysis

Longest runway ≥10,500 ft

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Elevation & National Context

Lowland Aerodrome (<2,000 ft)

DEL lies at 237 m (777 ft), #223 of 650 published airports by elevation and 60.9 percentile among 7,558 worldwide. It is 179 ft above the India median (598 ft, 26 airports); SXR is highest at 5,429 ft, 4,652 ft higher than DEL.

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Regional Density & Alternates (100 NM)

2 Qualifying Aerodromes in Vicinity

Closest of 2 paved-runway (≥5,000 ft) neighbours within 100 NM: Noida International Airport (DXN), 35.4 NM, 12,975 ft. Next: HSS 80.6 NM. DEL has the longest runway in this radius, 1,559 ft over DXN.

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Runway Inventory & National Standing

Primary Runway: 14,534 ft (4,430 m)

DEL runways: 11R/29L 14,534 × 197 ft asphalt (asph); 11L/29R 14,436 × 148 ft asphalt (asph); 10/28 12,500 × 148 ft asphalt (asph); 09/27 9,229 × 148 ft asphalt (asph). National standing: #1 of 26 in India; 558 ft ahead of HYD (13,976 ft). +45.3% vs the 10,000 ft baseline.

🛫 Physical Runway Inventory & Surface Engineering

Runway Designator	Length (ft / m)	Width (ft / m)	Surface Material	Lighting	Status
11R/29L	14,534 ft (4430 m / 4.430 km)	197 ft (60m)	`Asphalt (ASPH)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
11L/29R	14,436 ft (4400 m / 4.400 km)	148 ft (45m)	`Asphalt (ASPH)`	❌ Unlighted	✅ Active
10/28	12,500 ft (3810 m / 3.810 km)	148 ft (45m)	`Asphalt (ASPH)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
09/27	9,229 ft (2813 m / 2.813 km)	148 ft (45m)	`Asphalt (ASPH)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active

🧭 Comparative Aerodromes (100 NM Radius, ≥5,000 ft Paved)

Great-circle Haversine spatial proximity matching for commercial facilities with paved runway capacity within 100 NM.

Aerodrome Name	IATA	Distance	Longest Runway	Lighting
Noida International Airport (Gautam Buddha Nagar)	`DXN`	35.4 NM (65.6 km)	12,975 ft	✅ Lighted
Maharaja Agrasen International Airport (Hisar)	`HSS`	80.6 NM (149.3 km)	10,236 ft	✅ Lighted

🛡️ Source: OurAirports Open Aviation Database, snapshot 2026-09-01 · Provenance →