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Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) is expected to finalise a new 20-year master plan for Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) within the next two to two-and-a-half months, outlining the airport’s long-term infrastructure and operational strategy. The plan will account for evolving airline business models, changing market dynamics, passenger growth and future infrastructure requirements. The development comes as IGIA, India’s busiest airport, handled 78.7 million passengers during FY 2025-26 and continues to prepare for future capacity expansion. The master plan is expected to address terminal development, airside infrastructure and operational requirements while supporting Delhi’s ambition to strengthen its position as a major aviation hub amid increasing competition and changing traffic patterns.
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 the document expected to be completed and submitted to the Ministry of Civil Aviation within the next two to two-and-a-half months. The plan will serve as the blueprint for the airport’s future development, taking into account infrastructure requirements, passenger growth and changes in the aviation sector.
According to DIAL officials, the revised master plan will incorporate feedback from users and stakeholders and will differ significantly from the previous plan finalised in 2016. The airport operator is required to prepare and submit a comprehensive master plan every ten years to ensure that infrastructure development remains aligned with evolving traffic patterns and industry requirements.
The new framework is expected to reflect major changes that have taken place within the aviation sector over the past decade. Officials indicated that the competitive landscape has shifted considerably, with airlines such as Jet Airways and GoAir ceasing operations while carriers including Air India and IndiGo continue to expand their domestic and international networks. These changes are expected to influence long-term planning decisions related to terminal allocation, passenger handling and airport operations.
IGIA currently handles more than 1,300 aircraft movements daily and remains the country’s largest airport. During FY 2025-26, passenger traffic stood at 78.7 million, compared with 79.3 million in the previous financial year. Domestic passenger traffic accounted for 57.2 million travellers, while international traffic reached 21.5 million passengers.
The master plan is also expected to guide future capacity enhancement projects at the airport. Previous discussions around the plan have included the future of Terminal 2, expansion of Terminal 3, the development of a potential Terminal 4 and decisions regarding the allocation of domestic and international operations across terminals. DIAL has also been evaluating additional infrastructure such as new passenger piers, aircraft parking facilities and improved inter-terminal connectivity to accommodate future traffic growth.
Industry observers view the planning exercise as particularly significant given the evolving aviation ecosystem in the National Capital Region, including the emergence of Noida International Airport and increasing demand from both domestic and international carriers. DIAL has indicated that the new master plan will be dynamic in nature, allowing flexibility to respond to changing market conditions and operational requirements over the next two decades.
The airport operator, led by the GMR Group, reported a profit after tax of INR 476.9 crore in FY 2025-26, compared with a loss of INR 976.2 crore in the previous year. As passenger volumes continue to grow and infrastructure requirements evolve, the upcoming master plan is expected to play a central role in shaping the next phase of development at India’s busiest aviation gateway.
Source - PTI
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