Indira Gandhi International Airport DEL

Indira Gandhi International Airport is in Palam, about 15-16 km southwest of central New Delhi. It is India’s busiest airport and one of the largest in the world, with around 78.7 million passengers in fiscal year 2024-25. It is Air India’s main hub and is served by roughly 80 airlines, making it the country’s main international gateway.

Terminals

There are three terminals. Terminal 3, opened in 2010, is India’s largest and handles all international flights and most Air India domestic services. Terminal 1 is for domestic flights, mainly low-cost carriers such as IndiGo, SpiceJet and Akasa Air. Terminal 2 was closed for renovation and reopened in 2025 for domestic flights.

Airlines have moved between terminals several times, so always check the terminal on your boarding pass or in your airline’s app. Free shuttle buses run between terminals, but getting from T1 to T3 takes a good while, so it is not a transfer to attempt in a hurry.

Airlines and destinations

Air India and Air India Express, IndiGo, SpiceJet, Akasa Air and Vistara (now merged into Air India) cover all of India. International services reach Europe, North America, the Gulf, Southeast Asia and East Asia, with foreign airlines from every continent.

Services

T3 is a huge terminal with many shops, restaurants and lounges, with extensive duty-free shopping on the international side. T1 is simpler but has the basics for eating and waiting.

Tips

For international flights, arrive about three hours ahead, as security and immigration queues can be long. In winter, fog causes frequent delays and cancellations, especially early in the morning and at night, so avoid tight connections between December and January. If you connect between T1 and T3 on separate tickets, allow plenty of extra time.