IGI Airport and Palam Handle 257 VVIP Flight Movements for BRICS Summit
Why It MattersLarge-scale diplomatic summits generate concentrated surges in VVIP business and government aircraft traffic that require dedicated coordination infrastructure at host-country airports.
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and airport authorities handled a total of 257 arrival and departure flight movements, involving 1,189 VVIP and VIP movements, through Terminal-3 of Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport and Air Force Station Palam between September 3 and 15, an official told PTI.
India hosted the BRICS Summit on September 12–13, with 16 Heads of State or Heads of Government and delegations from 26 participating countries, along with hundreds of other dignitaries and foreign delegates, attending. Judicial delegations representing 17 countries — including chief justices, presidents and chairpersons of apex courts, and other senior judicial leaders — were also facilitated by the CISF and other agencies during the same period.
A dedicated BRICS Control Room was operationalised for round-the-clock monitoring and coordination of flight movements and exchange of information among CISF formations and other stakeholders. Three CISF teams maintained continuous coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs and protocol officials, Delhi Police, intelligence and security agencies, airport authorities, IAF Station Palam authorities, and other stakeholders associated with the movement of international delegations.
