Delhi airport's expanded Terminal 1 (T1) is set to begin operating at full capacity, handling 4 crore passengers annually (CPA), starting April 16. Following this, Terminal 2 (T2) may be closed for repairs as early as the following day.
The expanded 4 crore passenger capacity T1 was inaugurated last March, but a canopy collapsed three months later during the monsoon, resulting in one fatality. An expert panel appointed by the government attributed the incident to faulty design, poor construction, and inadequate maintenance. Following the collapse, T1 was completely shut, and only a portion of the terminal was later reopened for a few flights. Now, the expanded terminal is set to be fully operational.
The Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) has informed IndiGo and SpiceJet, the two airlines operating from T2, that their flights will be shifted to the all-domestic T1. The final date is subject to clearance from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), The Times of India reported.
"T2 apron needs to be strengthened and the terminal spruced up. So, it will be closed soon after T1 is put to use fully. T2 is likely to reopen in Aug-Sept after repairs that are estimated to take about 4.5 months. Closer to the reopening, a call will be taken on how to use T2 as its proximity to IGIA's only international terminal, T3, means it should be used for better domestic-to-international and vice-versa transfer traffic," TOI quoted a source as saying.
Air India Group and IndiGo are the leading Indian carriers with the most flights, both domestic and international. Despite years of planning, the lack of an air train has led airlines to highlight the poor connectivity between the approximately 8 km-separated T1 and T3/2 terminals as a barrier to smooth transfers.
As a result, more domestic flights from these airlines are expected to operate from T2 once it reopens. According to the sources, DIAL has no plans to convert T2 back into an international terminal and expects it to remain in its current form for the next three to four years.
Greater Noida Airport, with a capacity of 1.2 crore passengers annually, is expected to become operational later this summer. IGIA’s T3 and expanded T1 together will have a combined capacity of nearly 9.5 crore passengers annually. In 2024, IGIA served 7.8 crore flyers. Once Greater Noida Airport opens, footfall at IGIA may be impacted.
"Government wants to make IGIA India's first hub. Air India and IndiGo are massively expanding their international flights and transfer traffic will grow. It is baffling why DIAL has been so slow in improving connectivity between T1 and T2/3 by providing an air train. Passengers suffer as they need to travel by buses between these places," an airline official said.
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