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Indira Gandhi International Airport (IATA: DEL, ICAO: VIDP) is the primary airport serving New Delhi, India. The airport is named after Indira Gandhi, the former Prime Minister of India, and is located in Palam, Delhi, about 16 km from the city centre. The airport was established by the British Raj as a base for the Royal Indian Air Force during World War II. In 1962, commercial passenger operations were moved from Safdarjung Airport (Delhi's first airport, built around 1930) to Palam Airport. Over the years, the airport has undergone several expansions and renovations, including the addition of new terminals and runways to accommodate increasing passenger traffic. Today, Indira Gandhi International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world, known for its modern facilities, efficient services, and commitment to environmental sustainability.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Indira Gandhi International Airport |
| Former Name | Palam Airport |
| Location | Palam, Delhi |
| Distance from New Delhi Railway Station | 15 km |
| Distance from New Delhi City Centre | 16 km |
| Year of Construction | 1930s (as Safdarjung Airport) |
| Year of Renaming | 1986 |
| Terminal 1 Construction Year | 1962 |
| Terminal 2 Construction Year | 1986 |
| Terminal 3 Construction Year | 2006-2010 |
| Terminal 1A Construction Year | 1982 |
| Terminal 1A Closure Year | 2010 |
| Terminal 1C and 1D Merger Year | 2022 |
| Terminal 4, 5, and 6 | To be built in the future |
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What You'll Learn
Terminal 3, completed in 2010, is the largest single terminal in India
Terminal 3 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in New Delhi, completed in 2010, is the largest single terminal in India. The construction of Terminal 3, led by the GMR Group and Fraport, took place from 2006 to 2010, taking just over three years to complete. Terminal 3 opened its doors in July 2010, marking the first new terminal in Delhi in 24 years. The terminal was built to facilitate the 2010 Commonwealth Games hosted in Delhi.
Terminal 3 has the capacity to cater to 34 million passengers annually, a significant increase from Terminals 1 and 2. The terminal has won several accolades for its service and design, elevating its status as a global hub. It is part of the IGIA, which is India's only airport with four operational runways and the first elevated dual taxiways (ECT). The ECT can handle two A-380-size aircraft simultaneously and reduce tarmac time, while also cutting CO2 emissions by 55,000 tonnes annually.
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). The airport is situated in Palam, Delhi, 15 kilometres (9.3 miles) southwest of the New Delhi Railway Station and 16 kilometres (9.9 miles) from the city centre. It is the busiest airport in India in terms of daily flight traffic and the second busiest in terms of passenger traffic after Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport.
The history of the airport dates back to the 1930s when the first airport in Delhi, the Safdarjung Airport, was constructed. In the 1940s, during World War II, the British Raj established Palam Airport as a base for the Royal Indian Air Force. After Indian independence, the airport was taken over by the Indian Air Force. In 1962, commercial passenger operations were relocated from Safdarjung Airport to Palam Airport due to an increase in traffic. Over the years, the airport underwent expansions and renovations to accommodate growing air traffic. In May 1986, Terminal 2 was constructed, and Palam Airport was officially renamed Indira Gandhi International Airport.
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Terminal 1 was split into 1A, 1C, and 1D
Indira Gandhi International Airport (IATA: DEL, ICAO: VIDP) is the primary international airport serving New Delhi, India. The airport is situated in Palam, Delhi, 15-16 km from the city centre. Named after former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, it is the busiest airport in India in terms of daily flight traffic and the second busiest in terms of passenger traffic.
In 1962, commercial passenger operations were moved from Delhi's first airport, Safdarjung Airport, to Palam Airport. Palam Airport was established by the British Raj during World War II as a base for the Royal Indian Air Force, which later became the Indian Air Force.
In the 1970s, as air traffic in India boomed, Palam Airport struggled to keep up. This led to the construction of a new terminal (Terminal 2) in 1986, and Palam Airport was renamed Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. Terminal 1, the former Palam terminal, continued to serve as the primary domestic airport, while Terminal 2 became the new hub for international flights.
By the early 2000s, both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 were overwhelmed by the exponential growth in aviation demand. Terminal 1 was handling 45% more passengers than its capacity, and Terminal 2 was quickly filling up as well. This prompted the government to opt for private management and construction of the airport, with the contract awarded to the GMR-led Consortium in 2006.
Terminal 1, the focus of this narrative, was split into 1A, 1C, and 1D. Terminal 1A, constructed in 1982, initially served as a temporary structure for international VIPs arriving for the 1983 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Delhi. After a period of disuse, it was refurbished and utilised by Indian Airlines for Airbus A320 operations from 1988 until 2010, when operations shifted to Terminal 3. Terminal 1A has since been closed. Terminal 1C serves as the domestic arrivals terminal, while Terminal 1D facilitates domestic departures. The newer Terminals 1C and 1D have been connected and expanded into a singular domestic terminal, now simply known as Terminal 1, capable of handling up to 40 million annual passengers.
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Terminal 2 opened in 1986, serving international flights
The history of Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport can be traced back to World War II when the British Raj established Palam Airport as a base for the Royal Indian Air Force. After Indian Independence, the Royal Indian Air Force, later renamed the Indian Air Force, took control of the airport. In 1962, commercial passenger operations were moved from Safdarjung Airport, Delhi's first airport built around 1930, to Palam Airport due to an increase in traffic.
In the 1970s, long-haul and international travel boomed, and airlines such as Air India and Pan Am began flying to and from Delhi. This surge in air traffic meant that Palam Airport soon struggled to cope with the demand. As a result, plans were made to expand the airport, and in May 1986, Terminal 2 was inaugurated, serving as the new hub for international flights. With the addition of this new terminal, the airport was officially renamed Indira Gandhi International Airport, after the former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who passed away in 1984.
Terminal 2, along with Terminal 1, which continued to serve as the primary domestic airport, provided much-needed relief to the growing passenger traffic in Delhi. However, by the early 2000s, both terminals were overwhelmed, with Terminal 1 operating at 45% above its capacity. The need for a bigger and better airport became apparent once again, and the government decided to hand over the management and construction of the airport to a private group.
In 2006, the GMR-led Consortium was awarded the contract to operate, manage, and develop the airport, and they began construction on Terminal 3. This new terminal, completed in 2010, became the exclusive hub for all international departures and arrivals, while also accommodating select domestic operations. Terminal 2 was closed for renovations, and Terminal 1 continued to handle domestic flights.
Today, Indira Gandhi International Airport is the busiest airport in India in terms of daily flight traffic and the second busiest in terms of passenger traffic. It is recognised as one of the top airports in the world, boasting awards and accolades for its quality and efficiency. With its recent expansions and modernisations, the airport is well-equipped to handle the ever-growing aviation demand in Delhi.
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Terminals 4, 5, and 6 will be built to accommodate growth in passenger traffic
Indira Gandhi International Airport, the primary international airport serving New Delhi, has been expanding since the 1970s to accommodate the growth in passenger traffic. The airport, spread over an area of 5,106 acres, is situated in Palam, Delhi, and was established by the British Raj as a base for the Royal Indian Air Force during World War II.
In the 1970s, the rise of long-haul and international travel, as well as the entry of foreign airlines like Pan Am, led to a dramatic increase in air traffic in India. This prompted the expansion of Palam Airport, which was renamed Indira Gandhi International Airport in 1986 with the construction of Terminal 2. Terminal 1, which was previously known as Palam, continued to serve as the primary domestic airport.
However, by the early 2000s, both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 were overwhelmed by the growing passenger numbers. Terminal 1 was handling 45% more passengers than its capacity, and Terminal 2 was quickly filling up as well. This led to the construction of Terminal 3, which opened its doors in July 2010. Terminal 3 is a two-tier building spread over an area of 5.4 million square feet, with a capacity to handle 34 million passengers annually.
The construction of Terminals 4, 5, and 6 will be undertaken in the future to accommodate further growth in passenger traffic. According to Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), these new terminals will increase the airport's annual passenger volume capacity to 100 million. Once completed, all international flights will move to these three new terminals, while Terminal 3 will be dedicated to handling domestic air traffic.
In addition to the expansion of passenger terminals, Indira Gandhi International Airport has also been developing its cargo operations. The airport currently has separate brownfield and greenfield cargo terminals, with a new greenfield terminal being developed in phases. The airport's cargo operations received the "e-Asia 2007" award in 2007 for their implementation of e-commerce and electronic data interchange in the air cargo sector.
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Delhi Airport is India's first carbon-neutral airport
Delhi Airport, officially known as Indira Gandhi International Airport, is India's first carbon-neutral airport. The airport is located in Palam, Delhi, 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of the New Delhi Railway Station and 16 km (9.9 mi) from the city centre. It is named after Indira Gandhi, who was the former Prime Minister of India from 1966 to 1977 and then again from 1980 until her assassination in 1984.
Indira Gandhi International Airport is the primary international airport serving New Delhi, the capital of India, and the National Capital Region (NCR). The airport is spread over an area of 5,106 acres (2,066 ha) and is the busiest airport in India in terms of passenger and cargo traffic. In the financial year of 2024-25, the airport handled over 79.2 million passengers, the highest in its history.
The airport has implemented several initiatives to achieve carbon neutrality, including the adoption of renewable energy, the development of green airport infrastructure, the promotion of electric vehicles, and the implementation of zero-waste-to-landfill programs. These initiatives have resulted in a significant reduction of Scope 1 and 2 CO2 emissions by 90%, with the remaining residual emissions addressed through approved offset removals.
Delhi Airport has achieved Level 5 certification, the highest level of certification available, under the Airport Council International's (ACI) Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) program. This certification recognises the airport's commitment to reaching and maintaining a net-zero carbon balance for emissions under its control while also addressing Scope 3 emissions. The airport was awarded the Cleanest Airport in the Asia-Pacific Region in 2023 and has also been recognised for its service and design, elevating its global status as a hub.
The airport's management, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), has further committed to achieving net-zero Scope 3 emissions by 2050, aligning with ACI's ACA frameworks and the global push for a sustainable future. DIAL's CEO, Videh Kumar Jaipuriar, has emphasised the importance of reducing carbon emissions from airport operations and their focus on achieving carbon neutrality.
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Frequently asked questions
The first airport in Delhi, Safdarjung Airport, was built around 1930. The current primary airport serving New Delhi, Indira Gandhi International Airport, was established during World War II as Palam Airport.
The cargo operations of the airport received the "e-Asia 2007" award in 2007. The airport currently has two cargo terminals, with a new greenfield terminal being developed in phases. Once completed, the new terminals will have an annual handling capacity of 1.25 million tonnes.
Terminal 3 at Indira Gandhi International Airport has a capacity of 34 million passengers per year. The airport handled 79.2 million passengers in the 2024-25 financial year, making it the busiest airport in India in terms of passenger traffic.
Indira Gandhi International Airport currently operates three terminals. Terminal 1, formerly known as Palam, handles domestic flights, while Terminals 2 and 3 handle international traffic. Terminals 4, 5, and 6 will be built in the future as passenger traffic grows.
The airport is currently in the midst of completing its fourth runway, which will double the capacity of Terminal 1. The airport is also constructing a new cargo handling building.
