Delhi Indira Gandhi (DEL)

India's mega-hub in the making: South Asia's busiest airport, four runways and the home of Air India's revival and IndiGo's rise.
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Delhi Indira Gandhi (DEL) at a glance

IATA / ICAO
DEL/VIDP
Passengers (2024)
77.8 million (2024)
Runways
4
Hub for
Air India,IndiGo

Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi is the busiest airport in India and all of South Asia, handling 77.8 million passengers in 2024, a total that places it among the world's ten busiest and keeps climbing with the fastest-growing major aviation market on Earth. Operated by a GMR Group-led consortium, it became India's first airport with four runways in 2023 and an elevated taxiway to match.

Delhi is the stage for Indian aviation's twin dramas: Air India's Tata-era rebuild, hubbed at the vast Terminal 3 with Singapore Airlines holding 25.1%, and IndiGo's relentless expansion as it takes hundreds of new Airbus jets. The airport's master plan targets capacity beyond 100 million passengers, aiming to keep India's international transfers at home rather than routing them over the Gulf.

Hub & base airlines

Each airline below links to its AeroTime reference page.
Airline Role Terminal
Air India Primary hub Terminal 3
IndiGo Largest operator and hub Terminals 1, 2 and 3

Terminals & infrastructure

Delhi's Terminal 3 is among the world's largest buildings, home to Air India's rebuilt long-haul operation, while an expanded Terminal 1 serves IndiGo's giant domestic machine; a fourth runway added in 2023 made Delhi India's first four-runway airport. GMR's master plan pushes capacity toward 100 million-plus as the airport anchors India's bid to keep its own transfer traffic from Gulf hubs.

Full specifications

Official name
Indira Gandhi International Airport
Operator
Delhi International Airport Limited (GMR Group)
Opened
1962
Runways
4
Terminals
3 (Terminals 1, 2 and 3)
Passengers (2024)
77.8 million (2024)
Distance to city
15 km southwest of New Delhi

Frequently asked questions

How busy is Delhi's airport?

It handled 77.8 million passengers in 2024, the most of any airport in India or South Asia, ranking it among the ten busiest airports in the world.

Which airlines hub at Delhi?

Air India runs its principal international hub from Terminal 3 as its Tata-era rebuild accelerates, while IndiGo, India's largest airline, operates its biggest base across the airport.

How is Delhi airport expanding?

A fourth runway and elevated taxiway opened in 2023 and Terminal 1 was rebuilt and expanded in 2024, with master plans pushing total capacity beyond 100 million passengers.