Delhi Airport Eyes 125M Passenger Capacity by 2032

Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) is set for a significant capacity expansion, aiming to boost its annual passenger handling to 125 million under a new ten-year master plan. This initiative, managed by Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), reflects a strategic push to accommodate rising air traffic.

Key Expansion Targets

• Current annual capacity: 106 million passengers.
• Initial phase target: 116 million passengers by April 2030.
• Final target: 125 million passengers by 2032.

A central element of this master plan involves constructing Pier E at Terminal 3 (T3), projected to add 10 million to the airport’s capacity by April 2030. Terminal 3, currently handling international flight operations, already features four piers, with Pier C recently converted for international use.

Operational Footprint and Future Readiness

IGIA presently operates three terminals, T1, T2, and T3, which collectively manage its current 106 million passenger volume. Their individual capacities stand at 42 million, 14 million, and 50 million respectively.

• No immediate decisions on a new Terminal 4 or an Automatic Passenger Mover (APM) system have been made.
• The master plan designates a 7.5-kilometer right-of-way for a potential future APM system.
• Conversion of Terminal 2 into Terminal 4 remains an option, contingent on future passenger traffic demands.

Recent Growth Trajectory

The Delhi airport recently reported managing 6 million passengers in July, marking a 3.7 percent increase compared to the same month last year. This contributes to a total of 26.4 million passengers handled in the current financial year up to July 2026-27.

This ambitious expansion underscores DIAL’s proactive strategy to scale infrastructure in anticipation of sustained growth in India’s aviation sector.