Indira Gandhi International Airport DEL

The busiest airport in India, Indira Gandhi International Airport is located in West Delhi, India. Named after the former Prime Minister of India, not only does the airport serve the capital city of Delhi but people from native cities also come to book and catch their flights from this airport.

Awarded as the fourth best international airport in the world, the airport has become the largest and the most important airport hub of South Asia. No one can deny this fact, because the airport is currently handling 26 million passengers per year with an annual aircraft movement of 230,000 passengers.

Brief History and Information about Terminals and Runways

Previously known as Palam Airport, it was built around World War II. The Indian Air Force used the runway services in the beginning. However, due to increase in passenger traffic in Safdurjung Airport, the passenger operations took a shift towards this airport.

As the airport was previously handling a passenger capacity of 1300 per hour, it was felt that there should be another terminal to accommodate the ever-increasing traffic. Hence, Terminal 2 was opened in 1986.

Terminal 1: This terminal is catering to domestic flights. It is itself divided into 4 sub- terminals, A, B, C, and D. Terminal 1 A is responsible for operating all the flights by GoAir, Murli Dhar Lakh Ram (MDLR Airlines), Indian Airlines and Air India Regional. Terminal 1 B is closed for operations after Terminal 1 D was opened. Terminal 1 C, having a huge luggage reclaim area can handle all the flights from terminal 1 A and D collectively. Terminal 1 D (which was recently opened), is so big that all domestic flights are being slowly shifted to this terminal. It is so large and busy that it easily accommodates 10 million passengers per year.

Terminal 2: This terminal caters to all international flights. Being recently upgraded, the terminal can now handle more passengers due to the opening of more immigration and emigration counters.

Terminal 3: The eighth largest terminal of the world, T3 occupies a staggering area of 502,000 m2; The terminal 3 is a two storey building and the terminal at ground floor is meant for arrivals, while the first floor is for departures. An entire world within itself, the T3 in 2010 has started operating all international and domestic flights and has an excellent car parking system, which can easily accommodate 4300 cars at a time.

Terminal 4 and 5 will be soon built, and it is expected that due to these terminals, the annual handling capacity of Indira Gandhi International Airport will shoot up to 100 million.

For Muslim Pilgrims, a separate Hajj Terminal is built which operates from October to December and has a capacity to accommodate 10 million pilgrims.

The airport has three runways: two parallel and one non-parallel.

Runway 1 is 3,810 metres long

Runway 2 is 2,813 metres long

Runway 3 is 4,430 metres long making it one of the longest runways in entire Asia.

Facilities offered at the airport

All of the terminals have exquisite facilities. Some of these offer special rooms for babies and children, kids play areas, recreational and passenger services are provided in each terminal such as foot massagers, smoking areas, reverse osmosis purified water areas, medical care, prayer rooms, special services for unaccompanied minors, passengers with reduced mobility, physically challenged passengers, foreign exchange services, ATMs and Travel Insurance Policy Desks.

Terminal 3 provides a huge number of facilities. Some of these are:

168 check-in counters

78 aero bridges

30 parking lots with 7 levels having a capacity of 4300 cars

Medenta – the Medicity: Located at both domestic and international terminals of T3. It offers excellent and round-the-clock medical services to all in-terminals.

15 X-ray screeners

Pharmacy services

Duty Free shops

Direct connection to Delhi Mass Rapid Transit System

Ground Transport Services:

In the airport, there are inter-terminal transit systems that make the movement from terminal to terminal, which is an easy task.

Metro Rail Services have made a stop at Indira Gandhi International Airport. From here, a person can easily commute and roam around entire Delhi.

Bus services operate at Terminal 3 and they also provide a shuttle service every 15 minutes. Carzonrent is a private car-hire service and also offers chauffeur-driven and limousine services. The airport also offers excellent on-the-stop taxi services.