Delhi airport eyes 130 million passenger capacity

29 Oct 2025 CW Team

Currently, India’s busiest airport has the capacity to handle over 100 million passengers annually. In the year ending 31 March 2025, IGIA managed 79.3 million passengers. While passenger numbers are expected to rise this year, Jaipuriar did not provide a specific estimate.

The airport operates three terminals — T1, T2, and T3 — with international flights exclusively from T3. The refurbished Terminal 2 began operations on 26 October, expanding the airport’s overall infrastructure.

Jaipuriar explained that the target of 130 million passengers per year is within reach. “T1 is designed for 40 million passengers annually, but we can stretch that by 3–10 per cent through operational efficiencies, taking it to around 44 million,” he said.

“At T3, we are already handling around 51 million passengers, though it was originally designed for 34 million,” he added. The new piers at T3 are expected to add capacity for another 10–12 million passengers per annum, while the refurbished T2 can handle 15 million.

Following the inauguration of the revamped T2, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu also confirmed that IGIA’s capacity could rise to 130 million passengers annually once all efficiency measures are implemented.

Meanwhile, Jaipuriar highlighted the success of a new airside baggage transfer system for international passengers moving from T3 to T1. “We are currently running a successful Proof of Concept (PoC), and it should soon receive full approval,” he said.

Under this system, passengers can drop their checked baggage at T3 after customs clearance, and it will be automatically transferred airside to T1 — eliminating the need to carry it physically. The trial has been running for eight to nine months.

The airport is operated by Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), a GMR Group-led consortium, and features four runways, making it one of the largest aviation hubs in Asia.

The Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in Delhi could soon scale up its annual passenger handling capacity to 130 million, according to its CEO, Videh Kumar Jaipuriar. He said the expansion is achievable as “efficiencies can thrive” across terminals. Currently, India’s busiest airport has the capacity to handle over 100 million passengers annually. In the year ending 31 March 2025, IGIA managed 79.3 million passengers. While passenger numbers are expected to rise this year, Jaipuriar did not provide a specific estimate. The airport operates three terminals — T1, T2, and T3 — with international flights exclusively from T3. The refurbished Terminal 2 began operations on 26 October, expanding the airport’s overall infrastructure. Jaipuriar explained that the target of 130 million passengers per year is within reach. “T1 is designed for 40 million passengers annually, but we can stretch that by 3–10 per cent through operational efficiencies, taking it to around 44 million,” he said. “At T3, we are already handling around 51 million passengers, though it was originally designed for 34 million,” he added. The new piers at T3 are expected to add capacity for another 10–12 million passengers per annum, while the refurbished T2 can handle 15 million. Following the inauguration of the revamped T2, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu also confirmed that IGIA’s capacity could rise to 130 million passengers annually once all efficiency measures are implemented. Meanwhile, Jaipuriar highlighted the success of a new airside baggage transfer system for international passengers moving from T3 to T1. “We are currently running a successful Proof of Concept (PoC), and it should soon receive full approval,” he said. Under this system, passengers can drop their checked baggage at T3 after customs clearance, and it will be automatically transferred airside to T1 — eliminating the need to carry it physically. The trial has been running for eight to nine months. The airport is operated by Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), a GMR Group-led consortium, and features four runways, making it one of the largest aviation hubs in Asia.

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