Delhi Airport aims to boost International passenger capacity, says CEO

Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) CEO Videh Kumar Jaipuriar announced plans to increase the airport's international passenger handling capacity by 40% to 50%. Currently, the airport can handle 105 million passengers, with 22 million being international travelers. With growing demand from international airlines wanting to connect with India, the airport is running out of international capacity. Jaipuriar said at the CAPA India Aviation Summit that they aim to achieve this increase within six months to a year. Consultants are working to enhance operational efficiency, passenger convenience, and airside infrastructure.

Terminal expansions and new facilities

Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) has three terminals: T1, T2, and T3. The expanded Terminal 1 is expected to be operational by the end of the month, accommodating all low-cost airlines, including IndiGo. Terminal 3 handles international flights and has seen significant growth, with around 20% of passengers being transit or connecting travelers. Last year, nearly 20 million international passengers used the airport.

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DIAL, led by the GMR Group, is working on a 10-year master plan, which is being revised in response to recent changes. This plan includes the potential for dedicated terminals for specific airlines or for international and domestic connections. By July, the airport will have four fully operational runways, with one side of the fourth runway being CAT III compliant, allowing landings in poor visibility.

Increasing airside capacity and new technologies

The airport currently operates 1,500 slots per day and aims to increase this by 500-600 slots. Presently, there are 84 aircraft movements per hour, with the potential to exceed 110 movements after runway optimization. To manage passenger flow and reduce congestion, the airport is introducing the Airport Operations Centre (APOC) system, which uses data to predict peak times and improve resource allocation.

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Additionally, plans include an automated people mover (APM) system to connect Terminals 1 and 3, aligning with the government’s goal to make Delhi airport an aviation hub. DIAL has conducted a commercial evaluation of the APM and may seek government funding support for its implementation. The Airports Authority of India owns the infrastructure, while DIAL operates it.