Delhi Manages 35 Special Aircraft, Tight Airspace Coordination For BRICS Summit

Behind the ceremonial welcomes, official motorcades and red-carpet receptions for leaders attending the BRICS Summit, authorities in Delhi are managing a complex aviation operation involving around 35 special aircraft, multiple airports, controlled airspace and tightly scheduled flight movements. The arrangements are aimed at ensuring the safe and smooth movement of visiting dignitaries while limiting disruption to regular commercial aviation.

The operation covers the Indira Gandhi International Airport, the Indian Air Force’s Palam technical area and other airports being used to park aircraft belonging to visiting delegations. With several foreign leaders and senior officials arriving in special aircraft, aviation authorities have had to coordinate landing slots, parking positions, ground handling, security clearances and departure schedules across different facilities.

A major part of the planning involves separating VVIP movements from regular passenger operations. Visiting leaders are being handled through dedicated arrival facilities and controlled movement routes to ensure that their security arrangements do not overlap with the normal flow of passengers at the airport. These separate facilities are also intended to reduce congestion and allow official delegations to leave the airport under tightly managed security protocols.

Also Read: BRICS Summit: Delhi Police Imposes Traffic Curbs Across Capital Ahead Of September 12

Commercial flights are being timed and coordinated around the special movements. Air traffic controllers are required to maintain sufficient separation between special aircraft and scheduled passenger flights, particularly during periods when multiple VVIP aircraft are arriving or departing within a short window. The scheduling exercise is designed to minimise delays while giving priority to security-sensitive movements.

The coordination involves several agencies, including the Central Industrial Security Force, the Indian Air Force, aviation authorities, the airport operator and other security and government departments. Their responsibilities include airport security, airspace management, aircraft parking, runway coordination, ground movement and the movement of visiting leaders from the airport to their destinations in the national capital.

The scale of the arrangements reflects the logistical challenges of hosting a major international summit in a busy aviation hub such as Delhi. By distributing aircraft parking across multiple locations and carefully sequencing special and commercial flights, authorities are attempting to balance diplomatic protocol, security requirements and the operational demands of one of India’s busiest airports during the BRICS gathering.

Also Read: Putin Accuses Western Nations Of Unfair Trade Practices, Points To 30,000 Sanctions At BRICS