Delhi airport traffic hits record high in first half with 38.5 million passengers, eyeing expansion | Today’s news
Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) recorded 38.5 million passengers in the first half of the fiscal year 2026-2027, PTI reported. This represents about a 5% increase in the number of passengers, taking into account the increase in both domestic and international passengers compared to the previous year. The airport handled 36.7 million passengers in the first half of the 2025-26 fiscal year.
Passenger traffic at Delhi airport is seeing an increase
Air traffic movements (ATM) at the airport have also reportedly increased. According to the news agency, ATMs registered a year-on-year increase of 6.9% to 2,33,331 between April and September, according to the latest data provided by GMR Airport.
Domestic passenger traffic reached 28.1 million, while international traffic reached 10.4 million, bringing the total number of passengers at Delhi Airport to 38.5 million.
IGIA Airport recorded an average monthly passenger traffic of around 6.5 million. This is an all-time high for first-half passenger numbers for the period, GMR Airport said in a recent regulatory filing.
About IGIA airport
IGIA is operated by Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL). It is part of GMR Airports.
The Delhi airport witnessed a decline in passengers last year due to temporary flight restrictions due to airspace restrictions and geopolitical developments. Modernization work on Runway 10/28 further affected traffic and flight movements during this period and caused problems for airmen.
Delhi Airport handled 78.7 million passengers in the financial year 2025-26, according to PTI.
How many terminals at Delhi airport; check the capacity
Delhi Airport is one of the busiest airports in India. It has three terminals, including T1, T2 and T3, and four operating runways. Its annual passenger handling capacity is 106 million.
Of this, Terminal 1 handles 42 million passengers annually, while Terminal 2 has a capacity of 14 million. Terminal 3 can handle 50 million. T3 capacity includes 19 million domestic passengers and 31 million international passengers per year.
Delhi Airport Explanation Plan: What We Know So Far
Meanwhile, the airport has plans for expansion in the future. According to the latest 10-year master plan, the total annual passenger handling capacity is planned to increase to 125 million. After capacity expansion, this would include 86 million domestic and 39 million international passengers.
Meanwhile, passenger traffic at airports operated by GMR rose 0.5% year-on-year to 58.2 million in the first half of 2026-27.
Apart from Delhi airport, the same company also operates airports in Hyderabad, Mopa in Goa, Nagpur, Bhogapuram and Medan in Indonesia.
