Delhi Airport introduces special enclosures for disrupted flights

Delhi Airport has taken active steps to improve the experience for passengers affected by flight disruptions due to fog, weather, or technical issues. They have introduced special enclosures at the airport to ease the processing of these passengers. This initiative aims to minimise inconvenience and provide a more efficient experience for those whose travel plans are impacted by unforeseen circumstances.

Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), a subsidiary of GMR Airports Limited, which operates and manages the Delhi Airport, is establishing these special enclosures at all three terminals for processing the passengers to allow them back inside the terminal without any discomfort in security protocols. 

This arrangement would save passengers from having to undergo the security check through the normal process, wherein in such cases after getting off the plane, passengers are taken to arrivals and processed through Domestic or International transfer areas as the case may be before being brought back to the Security Hold Area.

Bringing such passengers directly to the reverse entry point significantly reduces the time taken in the de-boarding and boarding - from approximately 2.30 hours to just a few minutes.

“By implementing this new initiative, DIAL aims to significantly reduce the time taken for the de-boarding and boarding process for passengers of flights affected by fog/weather or technical issues,” said CEO-DIAL, Mr. Videh Kumar Jaipuriar. 

These special enclosures will be located at the Bus Boarding Gates and certain aerobridges in Terminal 3, the transfer area in Terminal 2, and the bus boarding gate in Terminal 1. These facilities will serve both domestic and international passengers.

Ranging from 250 to 450 square meters, Delhi Airport claimed that these enclosures will be able to hold between 55 and 120 passengers at a time. They are planning to ease security screening, allowing passengers to smoothly re-enter the terminal's Security Hold Area (SHA).

Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) is also working to provide essential amenities like toilets and vending machines within the enclosures, wherever useful. 

The enclosures would only be utilised as a security processing area after which the passengers would enter the security hold area (SHA) which will give the passengers access to all the facilities available there. 

To maintain safety and security, CISF personnel will be positioned in the enclosures to screen passengers returning from delayed or stranded flights before they are allowed to join other screened passengers in the SHA. 

The personnel from the Private Security Agency (PSA) will verify the documents of passengers affected by the fog/weather or technical issues. Only airline staff escorting passengers from stranded flights would be permitted to enter the enclosures for security reasons.