DELHI- Delhi International Airport (DEL), India’s busiest airport, has made history by connecting 150 destinations, cementing its position as a global aviation center.
On Sunday, Thai AirAsia X (XJ) began direct flights from Delhi to Bangkok-Don Mueang (DMK), marking the airport’s 150th connected destination.
Delhi Airport Destinations
The new Bangkok route will be served by Airbus A330 aircraft, beginning twice weekly and increasing to four weekly flights by mid-January 2025. This initiative demonstrates Delhi Airport’s purposeful growth of its destination network and commitment to improving passenger connectivity.
The airport’s international reach has expanded dramatically in recent years, with the addition of more than 20 major international destinations. These new routes connect Phnom Penh, Bali Denpasar, Calgary, Montreal, Vancouver, Washington Dulles, Chicago O’Hare, and Tokyo Haneda.
The expansion of Delhi Airport goes beyond simply increasing the number of destinations. The airport has seen a stunning 100% increase in transfer passenger throughput over the previous decade, cementing its position as South Asia’s main transit gateway.
Its long-haul connectivity is especially impressive, with 88% of India’s long-haul destinations accessible via Delhi.
The airport’s importance is further emphasized by its passenger numbers. Delhi serves as the departure point for approximately 56% of all long-haul weekly flights from India. Furthermore, 42% of long-haul passengers from India choose Delhi Airport as their principal gateway.
The airport also connects 4 million domestic passengers to overseas destinations each year.
What about Other Major Airports?
Aviation A2Z discovered that other major airports fall significantly behind Delhi Airport in terms of the destinations they service.
According to data, Mumbai Airport (BOM) is connected to approximately 120 destinations in 40 countries, including 66 domestic ones.
While Bengaluru Airport (BLR) has reached a milestone by serving over 100 destinations. It now serves 104 locations in 24 countries. The bulk of these locations are domestic (73). However, IndiGo (6E) and Air India (AI) are poised to revolutionize them in the next years, leveraging massive untapped market potential.
Furthermore, Hyderabad Airport (HYD) is connected to 93 destinations in 16 countries. It serves more than 70 domestic destinations.
Similarly, Ahmedabad has 55 destinations, Kolkata has 64, and Chennai has 68. Furthermore, the other top 15 or 20 are connected to fewer than 50 destinations.
Major Hub in India
The strategic introduction of wide-body aircraft by Indian carriers is establishing Delhi Airport as a leading international travel hub. The airport’s continuing makeover represents a significant advancement in global connectivity and aviation infrastructure.
Videh Kumar Jaipuriar, CEO of Delhi International Airport Limited, underlined that connecting 150 destinations is a strategic success.
The airport’s success is due to its modern infrastructure and passenger-friendly design. Modern facilities and optimized transfer processes have enabled Delhi Airport to set new industry benchmarks for operational efficiency and traveler convenience.
Busiest Airport in the Country
Indira Gandhi International Airport, formerly known as Palam Airport, has seen significant changes since its rebranding in 1986. The airport grew from a modest 3 million passenger capacity in 1979-80 to become an important national transportation hub.
Terminal development represented important milestones in the airport’s expansion. Terminal 2 opened in 1986, ushering in a new phase of airport construction, with Terminal 1 strategically partitioned to suit domestic and international operations.
Recent improvements have improved passenger facilities, including a new domestic arrivals terminal and a separate departures block.
The airport is currently a critical hub for major Indian carriers, with roughly 80 airlines operating across three operational passenger terminals and a dedicated cargo terminal.
In 2024, IGI Airport received global prominence by ranking as the world’s ninth busiest airport, cementing its role as India’s primary aviation gateway.
GMR Airports Infrastructure Limited has struck an agreement with Fraport AG to buy a 10% share in Delhi International Airport for $126 million. This acquisition boosts GMR’s equity stake in the airport to 74%, with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) holding the remaining 26%.