Delhi Airport: Navigating The Efficiently Secured Gates

The Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi is a bustling aviation hub, recognised as one of the busiest airports in Asia and the world. Named after India's former Prime Minister, it is situated in Palam, about 16 kilometres from the city centre. The airport boasts an impressive capacity, handling over 73 million passengers in the 2023-24 financial year. To accommodate this high volume, the airport has undergone significant upgrades, including the addition of a new runway and the construction of Terminal 3, a massive integrated international terminal. With ongoing expansion works, the airport is poised to further increase its capacity to serve up to 100 million passengers annually. As of now, the airport has three terminals catering to both domestic and international operations, with plans for additional terminals in the future.

Terminal 1: Domestic operations, divided into two buildings (1C for arrivals and 1D for departures)

Terminal 1 at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, India, is divided into two buildings: 1C and 1D. Terminal 1 is dedicated to domestic operations, with 1C serving as the arrivals terminal and 1D serving as the departures terminal. The terminal has been recently revamped and is now one of the largest domestic terminals in India, boasting a modern and spacious layout with state-of-the-art facilities. It is spread across 190,000 square meters and can handle up to 40 million passengers annually.

Terminal 1 offers a seamless and modern journey for domestic travellers, with a spacious and contemporary design. The Platinum LEED-certified building has adopted green and environmentally friendly construction methods. The high ceilings create an open and comfortable atmosphere, while the changing roof colours add a breathtaking aesthetic touch. The terminal features high-tech self-check-in machines, queue-buster mobile check-in, and advanced scanners for a swift and efficient experience. There are also expanded baggage claim areas with more baggage belts, making the journey from check-in to baggage claim smooth and enjoyable.

The terminal also showcases intricate artwork by renowned Indian artists, celebrating the rich cultural heritage of India. Terminal 1 has its own metro station, with the Magenta Line connecting to the Botanical Garden and Janakpuri West stations. It is recommended that passengers arrive at least two hours before their domestic flight departure.

Terminal 1 at Delhi Airport offers a range of facilities to enhance the travel experience, including lounges, retail shops, eateries, and ATMs. The terminal is well-connected to the other terminals, with a free shuttle service, prepaid cabs, and metro services available for convenient commuting.

Terminal 2: Domestic operations, handles budget carriers IndiGo and Spice Jet

Terminal 2 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi is dedicated to domestic operations, handling budget carriers IndiGo and Spice Jet. It was opened on 2 May 1986 at a cost of ₹95 crores and was used for international flights until July 2010, when operations shifted to Terminal 3. After this transition, Terminal 2 remained operational for only three months per year, catering specifically to Hajj flights.

In 2017, Terminal 2 underwent revamping at a cost of ₹100 crores, and all operations of GoAir and select operations of IndiGo were shifted to this terminal to facilitate the expansion of Terminal 1. Today, it is possible to walk between Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 in under five minutes.

Terminal 2 is currently being revamped to enhance its passenger handling capabilities. The terminal has a floor space of approximately 53,000 square metres and can accommodate up to 15 million passengers per year. It features 72 Common Use Terminal Equipment (CUTE)-enabled check-in counters, 16 self-check-in counters, and 16 security channels.

Indira Gandhi International Airport, named after the former Prime Minister of India, is the primary international airport serving New Delhi, the capital of India, and the National Capital Region (NCR). It is located in Palam, about 16 kilometres (10 miles) southwest of the city centre. The airport is the busiest in India in terms of passenger traffic and is also the busiest in the country for cargo traffic.

The airport has three actively scheduled passenger terminals (Terminals 1, 2, and 3) and a cargo terminal. Terminal 1 is used by low-cost domestic carriers such as SpiceJet and IndiGo, while Terminal 3 handles both international and domestic flights. Terminal 3, a massive integrated terminal, can handle 40 million passengers annually and doubled the airport's original capacity.

The airport has undergone significant upgrades and expansions over the years, including the addition of a 4,430-metre runway and Terminal 3, which became operational in 2010, transforming the airport into India's and South Asia's largest aviation hub. The next phases of the expansion program are underway, aiming to increase the airport's capacity to 100 million passengers per year.

Terminal 3: International operations, with 168 check-in counters and 95 immigration counters

Terminal 3 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi is a two-tier building with an upper floor for departures and a lower floor for arrivals. The terminal has 168 check-in counters and 95 immigration counters, alongside 15 X-ray screening areas. The terminal also has an excellent baggage service, with 14 baggage carousels in its arrival area.

The terminal was designed by HOK in consultation with Mott MacDonald and is spread over an area of 5.4 million square feet, making it the 15th largest terminal in the world. The terminal has a capacity of 45 million passengers per year and was built to accommodate the 2010 Commonwealth Games, which were held in Delhi.

The international flights depart from gates 1-26 (gates 2, 4, and 6 are bus gates), while domestic flights depart from gates 27-62 (gates 42 and 44 are bus gates). The terminal has 78 aerobridges at 48 contact stands and 54 parking bays. It also features shorter waiting times, duty-free shops, and other amenities.

The terminal officially opened on July 3, 2010, with all international airlines shifting their operations to the new terminal by the end of July, and all full-service domestic carriers by November of the same year. Terminal 3 is an integrated terminal, used for both international and domestic flights.

Terminal 4, 5 and 6: Future terminals to increase yearly passenger volume to 100 million

The Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in Delhi is India's busiest airport in terms of passenger and cargo traffic. In 2023-24, the airport handled 73.6 million passengers, the highest in its history.

The airport currently has three terminals (T1, T2, and T3) and four runways. T1 is used by low-cost domestic carriers, while T3 is used by all other airlines for both domestic and international flights. T2 has been used for Hajj flights since 2010 and remains operational for three months every year for this purpose.

To accommodate the increasing passenger traffic, a master plan for the construction of a fourth terminal (T4) was proposed in 2016. According to the plan, T4 would be fully domestic with a capacity of around 40 million passengers per year. This would convert T3 into a fully international terminal and T1 would remain domestic. The plan also includes the construction of Terminals 5 and 6 at a later stage, triggered by growth in passenger traffic.

The new terminals, T4, T5, and T6, are expected to increase the airport's annual passenger volume capacity to 100 million. Once completed, all international flights will move to these new terminals, and T3 will be used solely for domestic air traffic. The construction of these new terminals is part of the airport's expansion plan to cater to the increasing demand for air travel in the region.

Cargo Terminal: Handles all cargo operations, located 1km from Terminal 3

Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in Delhi is India's largest air cargo gateway, located 16 km from the city centre. The cargo terminal is located 1 km from Terminal 3 and is spread across 150 acres. It consists of two integrated cargo terminals, an on-airport logistics centre, and the largest airline network, connecting 67 international and 79 domestic destinations.

The cargo facility has witnessed sustained business growth since taking over operations in 2006. In 2018, it handled over one million metric tonnes of cargo, the highest in the country. The airport has modernised and expanded its cargo terminals, with advanced temperature-controlled cargo handling facilities. The terminals have separate chambers with varied temperature ranges for storing cargo, along with insulated loading/unloading bays and cool dollies to ensure an unbroken cold supply chain.

The cargo terminals are managed by two specialised operators, Celebi Delhi Cargo Terminal Management India Pvt. Ltd. (CDCTMIPL) and Delhi Cargo Service Centre (DCSC). CDCTMIPL operates the brownfield cargo terminal, while DCSC operates Cargo Terminal 2, providing cargo handling services at other Indian airports as well.

The cargo infrastructure includes:

• 4 operational runways and 12 freighter parking bays
• 165,000 sqm of cargo processing zone
• GDP-certified pharma handling processes
• 50,000 sq.m. of on-airport warehousing facility
• Dedicated transshipment facility at the airside for efficient cargo connectivity
• 2 integrated cargo terminals with a combined capacity of 1.8 million metric tonnes per annum
• A world-class cargo city spread over 23 acres, located in front of the cargo terminals
• 150,000 metric tonnes per annum capacity cold/pharma zone with a temperature range of -20°C to +25°C

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