Record first-half passenger count logged at Delhi's main airport

Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi processed a record number of passengers in the first half of the 2026-27 fiscal year, according to The Hindu BusinessLine. The facility handled 38.5 million individuals in the six months ending September 2026, a 5% increase over the 36.7 million recorded in the same period last year. This surge marks the highest first-half total in the airport's history. The growth was fueled by rising numbers of both domestic and international travelers, with domestic traffic reaching 28.1 million and international traffic climbing to 10.4 million.

Air Traffic Movements at the site also increased by 6.9% during this period, totaling 233,331 flights. The average monthly passenger count stood at approximately 6.5 million. The Hindu BusinessLine noted that the previous year's lower figures were attributed to temporary flight disruptions caused by airspace restrictions, geopolitical factors, and upgrades to runway 10/28. The airport, which operates three terminals and four runways, is managed by Delhi International Airport Ltd, a subsidiary of GMR Airports.

The facility currently has an annual capacity to handle 106 million passengers. This capacity is distributed across its terminals, with Terminal 1 accommodating 42 million, Terminal 2 handling 14 million, and Terminal 3 serving 50 million. Within Terminal 3, 19 million of the capacity is designated for domestic flights and 31 million for international services. A ten-year master plan aims to expand the total annual capacity to 125 million, split between 86 million domestic and 39 million international passengers.

Beyond Delhi, GMR Airports manages facilities in Hyderabad, Goa, Nagpur, Bhogapuram, and Medan in Indonesia. The Hindu BusinessLine reported that total passenger traffic across this network rose by 0.5% to 58.2 million in the first half of the current fiscal year. This modest increase contrasts with the stronger performance seen at the Delhi hub, which continues to serve as the primary gateway for air travel in the national capital.