G20 summit: A race against time to find space at IGI for VVIP aircraft

NEW DELHI: As heads of states and some top dignitaries from across the world are going to fly in for the G20 leadership summit this September, authorities at the Indira Gandhi International Airport are facing a unique challenge - creating parking space for VVIP aircraft.
Though IGIA is one of the biggest airports in the world, 52 aircraft of IndiGo and erstwhile GoAir have been grounded here for several months awaiting Pratt & Whitney's (PW) replacement engines, which has created a tight parking situation.
Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) is in talks with IndiGo to somehow arrange the engines to shift a few of its grounded planes to nearby airports like Jaipur by August-end. The airport currently has 191 aircraft parking stands.
"DIAL has been told that about 25 aircraft could fly in for the September 9-10 event. The airport has to be ready for these planes, starting early September. Being a national event, IndiGo has been asked to somehow get PW to send some replacement engines. At least 10-12 IndiGo planes have to be sent out of Delhi. GoFirst is another story as it is under insolvency," said people in the know.
Comments were sought from IndiGo, DIAL and PW on this issue and awaited till the time of going to press.
While IndiGo awaits PW replacement engines to operate the long-grounded planes again, GoFirst shut down this May awaiting the same.
"PW is aware of the national importance of the leaders' summit, which is the culmination of the year-long G20 events in India, and will definitely supply some engines so that the required number of parking bays at the Delhi airport is freed up," said sources.
Meanwhile, IGIA is also gearing up to host the prestigious mega event that will see US president Joe Biden, France's Emmanuel Macron, UK's Rishi Sunak and China's Xi Jinping, among others, fly to Delhi.
The entire 8-km stretch from Dhaula Kuan to the airport is being decked up. Statues of lions, elephants and fountains have come up on this road. Palam Technical Area (where top VVIPs land and take off from) is getting special attention with Thimayya Marg getting beautified. "This work is being done by government agencies and DIAL is supporting the same. The airport operator appointed a consultant for the beautification project," said sources.
Stranded aircraft of either grounded airlines like Jet and GoAir or the IndiGo planes awaiting PW engines have become a common sight at big airports across the country. In Delhi, a large number of GoAir planes are parked in the area right in front of the old air traffic control tower.