India's Largest Airport Is Now World's No. 1

The Indira Gandhi International Airport, India’s largest airport, has become the No. 1 airport in the world in the 40 million passengers per annum category and is now globally recognised forits advanced technology and smooth passage of both passengers and aircraft.

- Gayatri Moodliar

Formerly known as Palam Airport, the Indira Gandhi International Airport is located a mere 16 kilometres from the centre of New Delhi—the capital of India and a prime tourist destination. The airport is well-connected to the Metro network of the capital and opens into the national highway system. It is among the top 20 busiest airports in the world and handled over 60 million passengers in 2017.

It serves as a major international hub by connecting Delhi to more than 135 destinations through 50-plus foreign carriers and nine Indian carriers. A major change was seen in 2006 when Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), a public-private consortium, was formed to take over the operation of the airport. Led by the GMR Group, a global infrastructure major, the consortium includes the Airports Authority of India and Fraport, and together they helped take the airport to new heights. Under DIAL, the modernisation of IGIA was completed, as was the commissioning of a new terminal— Terminal 3, the construction of which was completed in 37 months. Its operations began in 2010.