The 18th BRICS Summit takes place in New Delhi on September 12 and 13, 2026. As India chairs the grouping for the fourth time under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” the summit will bring together Heads of State and senior delegations from eleven member nations: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia as an observer. Partner country delegations and accompanying business and media contingents will add significantly to the total volume of international aircraft movements into Delhi around the event.
For aviation operators, embassies, and protocol teams managing delegation travel, the ground handling requirement for a summit of this scale is considerable. This article explains what VIP ground handling at a major diplomatic event involves and how VVIP Flight supports operations into New Delhi during the BRICS Summit period.
What VIP Ground Handling Means at a Summit Like BRICS
VIP ground handling for a diplomatic summit is not a scaled-up version of standard business aviation handling. It is a fundamentally different operational framework built around security, protocol, and precise timing, all of which are non-negotiable at a Head of State-level event.
At the BRICS Summit, every aircraft carrying a Head of State, a foreign minister, or a senior delegation member arrives into an operational environment where security agencies, protocol officers, airport authorities, and ground handlers are coordinating simultaneously. The ground handler’s role is to ensure that every element of the ground operation, from parking stand allocation and ramp access to lounge coordination and motorcade staging, is in place before the aircraft arrives, not managed on the day.
Ceremonial Lounge and Tarmac Access
Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport has a dedicated Ceremonial Lounge for VVIP and diplomatic movements, coordinated separately from the main commercial terminal. For Head of State aircraft, movements into and out of the Palam Air Force technical area involve a separate coordination chain that runs through defense authorities alongside civil aviation and protocol channels.
For BRICS Summit delegations, lounge access needs to be arranged well in advance with a verified passenger and support staff list. Direct tarmac access, allowing the delegation to move from the aircraft to the lounge or waiting motorcade without passing through any public terminal area, is a standard requirement for principal-level movements and must be coordinated with both the airport authority and the relevant security agencies before the aircraft departs its origin.
Permit Coordination for BRICS Delegation Flights
Every non-scheduled foreign aircraft operating into India requires a valid landing permit from the DGCA. Standard processing is 3 working days, extends to 7 working days for flights originating from the list of restricted countries such as China, North Korea, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, and Nigeria.
Beyond the standard permit, diplomatic and Head of State flights require clearance through the Ministry of External Affairs alongside the civil aviation permit process and, where applicable, defense coordination. This parallel clearance process has its own timeline, which does not compress simply because the event is significant. Delegations who have not initiated their coordination process at least one month before the planned arrival should do so immediately.
For aircraft transiting Indian airspace without landing, overflight permits are required. Standard overflight permits process in 1 working day, extends to 3 working days for restricted-origin countries.
Security Compliance During the Summit Period
India deploys enhanced security protocols around major diplomatic events. For the BRICS Summit, all passengers and crew arriving on international aircraft will be subject to standard Indian aviation security requirements, including personal frisking and hand baggage X-ray screening before entering the sterile pre-boarding area.
For delegations traveling with armed personal protection details, prior coordination with Indian customs and the Ministry of Home Affairs through the correct diplomatic channel is mandatory before arrival. E-cigarettes and satellite phones are prohibited in India and should not be carried by any passenger or crew member.
Motorcade and Ground Transportation Coordination
For principal-level movements, ground transportation is not arranged independently of the ramp operation. The motorcade staging, timing, and departure sequence from the airport to the summit venue needs to be aligned with the ramp schedule and the lounge timeline. A delegation that arrives at the aircraft door and finds the motorcade staging 20 minutes behind is experiencing a ground coordination failure, not a transportation problem.
At VVIP Flight, motorcade timing is coordinated as part of the integrated ground handling brief, not as a separate arrangement made by a different provider. This ensures that the vehicle movement and the aircraft movement run on the same timeline.
Slot and Parking Coordination During the Summit Period
Delhi airport manages general aviation slots separately from commercial operations. During the BRICS Summit period, available general aviation slots will be compressed as the airport sequences Head of State arrivals and departures across a narrow window. Operators who have not confirmed their arrival slots and parking stands well ahead of the event will face the realistic possibility of being assigned slots and stands significantly outside their preferred window.
Parking confirmation at VIDP operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Delegations planning extended stays in Delhi around the summit should confirm stand availability and planned duration with their ground handler at the earliest opportunity.
How VVIP Flight Provides VIP Ground Handling for BRICS 2026
At VVIP Flight, VIP ground handling for diplomatic and Head of State movements is managed as an integrated service. Our team coordinates the landing and overflight permit process, slot and parking confirmation, Ceremonial Lounge access, tarmac access, immigration and customs coordination, baggage handling, catering, and motorcade staging as a single operational plan with a single point of contact.
For delegations traveling to New Delhi for the BRICS Summit on September 12 and 13, we recommend beginning coordination now. Please contact our operations team at ops@vvipflight.com.
Disclaimer: Kindly note that the information provided in the above article is subject to change without prior notice. We recommend contacting our operations team for the latest regulations, updates, and accurate information before planning your trip.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is VIP ground handling at the BRICS Summit?
VIP ground handling at a diplomatic summit covers Ceremonial Lounge access, tarmac coordination, permit management, security compliance, baggage handling, and motorcade staging, all coordinated in advance as a single integrated operation.
- Do BRICS delegation flights need special permits to land in India?
Yes. All non-scheduled foreign aircraft require a DGCA landing permit. Flights from the list of restricted countries such as China, North Korea, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Nigeria and China require 7 working days for processing. Diplomatic and Head of State flights also require Ministry of External Affairs clearance alongside the standard permit.
- Is the BRICS Summit venue confirmed?
The 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit is scheduled in New Delhi on September 12 and 13, 2026. All major BRICS ministerial meetings in 2026 have been hosted at Bharat Mandapam. The official venue for the Leaders’ Summit has not been formally announced as of the time of writing.
- Can armed personal protection details travel to India with BRICS delegations?
Firearms carried by personal security personnel must be declared and cleared through the correct diplomatic channel and coordinated with Indian customs and the Ministry of Home Affairs before arrival.
- How far in advance should VIP ground handling for the BRICS Summit be arranged?
At least one month before the planned arrival date, and earlier for movements involving defense facilities or restricted-origin country permits. The permit and diplomatic clearance processes cannot be expedited after the fact.
