Delhi Airport Enters Elite ‘100M-Plus’ Club
India's Aviation Sector Sees Transformative Growth with New Airports and Record Passenger Traffic.
- Delhi Airport Joins Elite Club Delhi’s IGI Airport is one of six globally with a 100M+ passenger capacity.
- Aviation Sector Growth The number of operational airports in India has grown from 74 to 162 since 2014.
- Record Passenger Traffic Indian airports handled 412 million passengers in 2024-2025, a 9% rise.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 18th Aug: Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) has joined the exclusive ‘100-million-plus club’ of global airports, with an annual passenger-handling capacity of 109 million. According to data from the Official Airline Guide and airport operators, only six airports worldwide are in this exclusive group.
The milestone was achieved in May 2023 following the full operationalization of Terminal 1, and the airport closed 2024 with the increased capacity. Other than Tokyo Haneda, it is the only airport in Asia to be included in this category. The airport is run by Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), which is also considering plans to rebuild and modernize Terminal 2 to further expand the airport’s overall capacity.
According to an official report released last month, the Indian aviation industry has undergone a significant transformation over the past 11 years. This growth is fueled by a comprehensive and integrated approach under national initiatives like PM GatiShakti, the National Logistics Policy, Bharatmala, Sagarmala, and UDAN.
The report stated that India now has 162 operational airports, including heliports and water aerodromes, up from 74 in 2014. As per official data presented to Parliament, Indian airports handled 412 million passengers in 2024-2025, including 77 million foreign and 335 million domestic travelers. This marks a 9% increase from the previous year.
The Regional Connectivity Scheme-Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (RCS-UDAN) was introduced in 2016 to improve regional air connectivity and lower the cost of air travel for the public. Since its inception, 637 RCS routes have been operationalized, linking 92 underserved and unserved airports. These budget flights have carried more than 1.51 crore passengers.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, speaking at the Northern Region Ministers’ Conference last month, announced that the nation has seen 88 new airports in just ten years, or almost one new airport every 40 days, and 60 more flights every hour. The minister claims that flying is now more available, accessible, and reasonably priced in India. Naidu reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to cooperative, state-specific strategies for inclusive aviation growth, stating that Indian skies are more connected, competitive, and collaborative under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
