📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Wasiul Bahar
Travel
Delhi Airport Handles Record 38.5 Million Passengers in H1, Plans Expansion
✍️ Livemint
🗓 21 Oct 2026, 02:01 AM
👁 11
Indira Gandhi International Airport logged 38.5 million passengers in the first half of the year, a new high that has prompted officials to look at expansion options.
The Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi recorded 38.5 million passengers during the first six months of the year, marking the highest traffic ever for the hub. The figure represents a substantial rise over the same period last year and pushes the airport closer to its existing capacity limits.
Airport authorities said the surge reflects both robust domestic travel and a rebound in international flights after pandemic‑related restrictions eased. The growing passenger flow is putting pressure on terminals, runways and ancillary services.
In response, the airport’s managing body has begun evaluating expansion projects, including additional terminal space and runway upgrades, to accommodate future demand. Officials indicated that detailed plans will be drafted in the coming months, with implementation timelines to be announced later.
The record traffic underscores Delhi’s role as a key gateway for business and tourism in the region, and the proposed upgrades aim to sustain the airport’s operational efficiency as passenger numbers continue to climb.
Airport authorities said the surge reflects both robust domestic travel and a rebound in international flights after pandemic‑related restrictions eased. The growing passenger flow is putting pressure on terminals, runways and ancillary services.
In response, the airport’s managing body has begun evaluating expansion projects, including additional terminal space and runway upgrades, to accommodate future demand. Officials indicated that detailed plans will be drafted in the coming months, with implementation timelines to be announced later.
The record traffic underscores Delhi’s role as a key gateway for business and tourism in the region, and the proposed upgrades aim to sustain the airport’s operational efficiency as passenger numbers continue to climb.