New Delhi, 10 December 2025: GMR Aero-led Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), operator of India’s busiest airport, has significantly strengthened its winter readiness with next-generation AI systems, advanced predictive analytics, and enhanced runway capabilities—ensuring safer, more efficient flight operations and minimal passenger disruption during low-visibility conditions.

In these, Delhi Airport’s “Airport Predictive Operations Centre (APOC)” plays a central role. By integrating real-time data, predictive weather models, and airside operational inputs into a single command environment, the APOC enables faster decision-making and more accurate resource deployment during fog.

Photos are for representational purposes only

It helps optimise runway utilisation, improve gate and stand allocation, prioritise aircraft sequencing, and ensure timely communication with all partners. This coordinated, data-driven approach significantly enhances the Airport’s ability to maintain operational continuity even during rapid visibility fluctuations.

In addition, as a pilot project, DIAL will be using the Winter Fog Experiment (WiFEX) data on fog, which claims to provide 85% fog prediction accuracy. It is expected to help in anticipating fog well in advance. This early insight will enable proactive operational planning and seamless coordination between airlines, Air Traffic Control, and ground teams — ultimately leading to fewer delays and a far more reliable travel experience for passengers.

Photos are for representational purposes only

Pune-based Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), in collaboration with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and DIAL, launched a decade-long collaborative research program on fog - “Winter Fog Experiment (WiFEX)”. Data related to temperature, humidity, wind profiles, aerosols, pollution particles, radiation, microphysics of fog droplets, and visibility changes are collected through sophisticated instruments like LIDARs, ceilometers, radiation sensors, aerosol counters, and remote sensing towers.

This will help in building advanced fog prediction models (1 to 36 hours in advance), understand local meteorology behind dense fog, improve airport operations and safety through accurate visibility forecasts, and create long-term datasets for fog research.

Adding to these technological advances, the Airport has also completed a significant airside upgrade in association with the Airports Authority of India (AAI): the Dwarka end of Runway 10/28 (the second runway) has now been equipped with a CAT III Instrument Landing System. With this enhancement, three runways (10/28, 11L/29R, and 11R/29L) at Delhi Airport are now CAT-III compliant at both ends, enabling safe landings even in dense fog. The newly upgraded runway, along with the existing runway, enables around 30 landings per hour during low-visibility conditions.

This milestone is expected to cut fog-related recovery time by nearly four hours — from six hours to two hours — helping protect flight schedules, reduce passenger inconvenience, and keep winter travel moving smoothly even when visibility drops.

“Fog is a natural and unavoidable part of Delhi’s winter, but at DIAL, we are committed to ensuring that its impact on passengers is minimized as much as possible. This year, we have strengthened our preparedness with next-generation AI tools, advanced predictive analytics and data from the Winter Fog Experiment (WiFEX), which allows us to predict fog well in advance.

We have also enhanced airside capability by making all three runways CAT-III compliant at both ends, including the recent upgrade of the Dwarka side of Runway 10/28. This will enable safe landings during low-visibility conditions and help maintain smoother operations even during dense fog.

While weather-related disruptions cannot be eliminated completely, these upgrades will greatly improve our ability to plan, respond, and recover quickly. Our focus remains firmly on ensuring a reliable, safe, and comfortable travel experience for all passengers throughout the winter season,” said Mr. Videh Kumar Jaipuriar, CEO-DIAL.

With these cutting-edge technological upgrades and enhanced runway capability, Delhi Airport has further strengthened its position as India’s most prepared and future-ready aviation hub—ensuring safe, predictable, and passenger-friendly operations throughout the challenging winter fog season.

About GMR Airports Limited (Formerly GMR Airports Infrastructure Limited)

GMR Airports Limited (GAL) is a leading global airport platform company with over two decades of experience in designing, constructing, and operating world-class sustainable airports. Under the brand name “GMR AERO”, it offers pioneering aviation solutions in retail, aero services, and real estate. Groupe ADP joined the journey in 2020 as a strategic partner and is now a co-promoter in GAL.

As a platform business, GAL also provides a range of aero services including Duty Free, Retail, F&B, Cargo, Car Parking, O&M, and PMC services. Through its innovative Aerotropolis concept, it develops cutting-edge airport cities giving shape to best-in-class real estate developments in South Asia. GAL operates India's largest third-party Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility through its subsidiary, GMR Air Cargo and Aerospace Engineering Limited ensuring operational excellence across the Asia Pacific region.

GMR Innovex, a GMR Group entity, is developing and introducing a range of digital solutions to enhance the passenger journey and airport experience. Through GMR Aero Academy and GMR School of Aviation, the company is creating the talent pool necessary to drive the growth of the aviation sector in India (the third largest in the world).

As the largest private airport operator in Asia and the second-largest globally, GAL served over 120 million passengers in FY25 with a steadfast commitment to excellence in airport management as reflected in its consistent rankings for services by ACI and Skytrax. With a robust presence in India and Southeast Asia, the company operates key gateways such as Delhi, Hyderabad, Goa, and Medan airports, while extending its technical services to Mactan Cebu International Airport in the Philippines. GAL is also developing transformative projects like the greenfield airports in Bhogapuram (Visakhapatnam), India, and Crete, Greece.

GMR Group, the promoter of GAL has a significant presence in Energy, Transportation, Urban Infrastructure, and Sports. Through its CSR arm, GMR Varalakshmi Foundation, GMR supports local communities, reflecting its commitment to improving quality of life by enhancing skills, providing education, and developing healthcare infrastructure and services.

Groupe ADP develops and manages airports, including Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Paris-Orly, and Paris-Le Bourget. In 2024, the group handled through its brand Paris Aéroport 103.4 million passengers at Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Paris-Orly, and nearly 363.7 million passengers in airports in France and abroad. Boasting an exceptional geographic location and a major catchment area, the Group is pursuing its strategy of adapting and modernizing its terminal facilities and upgrading the quality of services; the Group also intends to develop its retail and real estate businesses. In 2024, group revenue stood at €6,158 million and net income at €342 million.

For further information about GMR Group, visit https://www.gmrgroup.in

For further details, please contact:

Subhendu Ray
Corporate Communications
Email: subhendu.ray@gmrgroup.in

Sarvottamjee M Jaipuriar
Corporate Communications
Email: sarvottamjee.jaipuriar@gmrgroup.in