Upgrading IGIA: New 20-Year Master Plan to Reshape Delhi Airport

Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) is in the final stages of preparing a new 20-year master plan for Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), with completion expected within the next two to two-and-a-half months. The plan will provide a comprehensive long-term framework for the airport’s expansion and modernization, ensuring that infrastructure development keeps pace with projected growth in passenger traffic and evolving aviation industry requirements.

The master plan is being developed following extensive consultations with stakeholders, airlines, and airport users, and is expected to incorporate significant revisions compared to the previous version finalized in 2016. The updated strategy will reflect major changes in the aviation sector over the past decade, including shifts in airline market share, the exit of carriers such as Jet Airways and Go First, evolving passenger travel patterns, and new operational and capacity requirements. As mandated for major airports, the master plan will be submitted to the Ministry of Civil Aviation upon completion and will guide future investments, capacity enhancements, and operational planning over the next two decades.

As India’s busiest and largest airport, Indira Gandhi International Airport serves as a critical hub for domestic and international air travel. The airport currently handles more than 1,300 aircraft movements each day and recorded 78.7 million passengers during FY2025–26, comprising 57.2 million domestic and 21.5 million international travellers. The forthcoming master plan is expected to play a key role in supporting sustained traffic growth, improving passenger experience, and strengthening the airport’s position within India’s rapidly expanding aviation sector.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.