All about: Indira Gandhi International Airport

Indira Gandhi International Airport is named after the country’s most famous former Prime Minister. It is the major hub for air passengers in India, and within South Asia. It has plans for massive expansion by 2030. To learn all about the busiest of the Indian airports, read the guide below.

The new and modern airport

Owned and operated The airport serves the city of New Delhi, and lies 10 miles or 16 kilometres to the south west of the city centre. It is owned by the Airports Authority of India, and operated by Delhi International Airport Limited or DIAL. Runways The airport has three runways, the longest being 14,534 feet (4,430 metres), in length, the shortest of the three runways is 9,229 feet (2,813 metres) long. The airport sits at an elevation of 777 feet above sea level.
Passenger numbers During 2010, the airport handled over 26 million passenger journeys. There were 240,000 aircraft take-offs, and landings recorded during the same period.
Airport expansion A newly opened terminal three has given an even greater capacity to the airport. It is now capable of handling 46 million passengers each year. Further expansion is planned with two more terminals, expected to bring a capacity of up to 100 million annual passengers by 2030.

History and recognition of achievements

Previous operators of the airport The airport was previously under the authority of the Indian Air Force. It was handed over to the current operators DIAL in May 2006.
Awards The terminal three was opened for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, to handle the additional visitors through the airport. Also, in 2010, it was voted as the fourth best airport in the world, by the Airport Council International. In the same year, it gained the title as the Best Improved Airport within the Asia-Pacific Region. History of the airport It was built during the Second World War, by the Royal Air Force named RAF Palam. Once the British left India, it was taken over by the Indian Air Force, and became known as Palam Airport. Civilian operations began in 1962, and the airport had a peak capacity of 1300 passengers per hour. Recent history
In the 1970s, a new terminal was constructed, thereby giving four times the area of the old terminal. Terminal 2 became an international terminal during its inauguration, when the airport became known by its present name. Hajj flights
A section of terminal one is exclusively for the use of passengers, travelling to the annual pilgrimage of Hajj from October to December.