Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu inaugurated the renovated Terminal 2 (T2) at Delhi airport on Saturday. The terminal will reopen for flight operations on Sunday, October 26. The upgrade marks a major expansion in capacity at India’s busiest airport.
According to Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), Air India and IndiGo will operate around 120 domestic flights daily from the refurbished terminal. DIAL, led by the GMR Group, manages the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA).
Government’s Aviation Push
“The government is developing and transforming airports into world-class transit hubs at an unprecedented pace,” Naidu said during the ceremony. Senior officials from the civil aviation ministry, Airports Authority of India (AAI), Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), and DIAL also attended the event.
Delhi as a Key Aviation Hub
Naidu said Delhi handles nearly 50 percent of the northern region’s total passenger traffic and manages about 50,000 transfers daily. He added that India has the potential to become one of the world’s largest aviation ecosystems.
T2, which is over 40 years old, closed in April this year for renovation. It reopens just in time for the Winter Schedule 2025, when flight movements are expected to rise by about 13 percent compared to last year.
Capacity and Sustainability Focus
Naidu said Delhi airport can now handle up to 130 million passengers annually with better space management. He also highlighted its growing focus on sustainability, including the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
DIAL said the renovated terminal will play a “pivotal role” in strengthening Delhi’s position as India’s leading aviation hub. It is now better equipped to handle the next phase of passenger growth efficiently and sustainably.
Improved Passenger Experience
“The reopening of T2 allows for more balanced airline operations across terminals, further enhancing efficiency and convenience for millions of travellers,” said Videh Kumar Jaipuriar, CEO of DIAL.
The upgraded terminal features a Self-Baggage Drop (SBD) facility that lets passengers check in their luggage themselves. This reduces queues and waiting times. It also includes six new Passenger Boarding Bridges (PBBs) and modern mechanical and electrical systems to handle future traffic growth.
First Flights from T2
The first arriving flight at T2 will be IndiGo 6E 2058 from Lucknow at 12:25 a.m. on October 26. The first departing flight will be IndiGo 6E 2343 to Pune at 2:15 a.m. the same night.
Delhi Airport’s Growing Capacity
The Indira Gandhi International Airport now operates three terminals—T1, T2, and T3—and four runways. It handles over 1,300 flight movements daily and can accommodate more than 100 million passengers each year.