Delhi Airport reports 244% growth in international transfers

New Delhi: Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) has witnessed a sharp 244% rise in international-to-international (I-to-I) passenger transfers over the past two years, according to a whitepaper released by Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL).

The surge strengthens IGIA’s ambition of becoming a hub airport — a central point where airlines consolidate flights and passengers connect seamlessly between destinations worldwide.

DIAL CEO Videh Kumar Jaipuriar said the strong growth highlights Delhi’s emergence as a global transit hub, crediting the achievement to focused efforts on connectivity, modern infrastructure, and enhanced passenger experience. He added that the development is aligned with the government’s vision of positioning Delhi as a key international gateway.

Data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) shows I-to-I transfers jumped from 3.88 lakh in FY 2023 to 13.4 lakh in FY 2025. Much of this growth is linked to new routes in the Central Asia–Thailand corridor, with carriers like IndiGo introducing services between Bangkok/Phuket and cities such as Almaty, Tashkent, Tbilisi, and Baku.

Overall transfer traffic at IGIA also climbed 30.6% during the same period, from 1.56 crore passengers in FY 2023 to 2.03 crore in FY 2025. Domestic-to-domestic transfers made up 1.05 crore passengers, reflecting a 15.9% rise.

To support this growth, the airport has expanded its I-to-I transfer area, set up more security booths, and added retail, dining, lounges, nap and shower facilities, and a transit hotel. Additional improvements include shuttle services between terminals, metro access, and digital wayfinding tools.