Delhi Airport, officially known as Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), has significantly strengthened its position as India's premier aviation hub, driven by a remarkable increase in transfer passenger traffic. Recent data from GMR Airports Ltd. for May 2026 reveals that the airport facilitated approximately 1.9 million transfer passengers, accounting for a substantial 27% of its total traffic of 7.14 million.
This figure marks a notable rise from April 2026, when transfer volumes stood at 1.54 million (23% of total traffic). The upward trend is even more pronounced year-on-year, with the share of transfer passengers increasing from around 20% in May 2025 to the current 27%.
A Critical Transit Gateway
On average, Delhi Airport now handles nearly 56,000 transfer passengers every day, underscoring its growing importance as a preferred transit gateway. One in every four passengers passing through the airport is a transit passenger, connecting various destinations across India and the globe.
The consistent growth in transfer traffic is attributed to several factors:
- An extensive and robust route network.
- Strong partnerships with leading airlines.
- Integrated terminal operations ensuring efficiency.
- Passenger-centric infrastructure designed for seamless connectivity.
Domestic and International Connectivity
Domestic-to-domestic (D-D) transfers remain the largest contributor, making up 61% of the total transfer traffic. This highlights Delhi Airport's crucial role in linking major metropolitan areas with emerging economic centers, tourism hotspots, and other regions nationwide. Popular domestic transfer routes include Pune–Delhi–Srinagar, Srinagar–Delhi–Pune, and Kolkata–Delhi–Srinagar.
The airport is also experiencing significant growth in international transfer traffic, serving as a strategic gateway linking South Asia with major global destinations. Key international transit flows include routes such as Ahmedabad–Delhi–Toronto, Phuket–Delhi–London Heathrow, Dubai–Delhi–Patna, and Kathmandu–Delhi–Tokyo.
Airline Partnerships and Future Outlook
The airport's hub ecosystem is further bolstered by strong collaborations with its airline partners. IndiGo, Air India, and Air India Express collectively account for a substantial share of the transfer traffic through Delhi, leveraging the airport's connectivity to expand their networks.
“The steady growth in transfer passenger traffic is a strong endorsement of Delhi Airport's position as India's leading aviation hub. Today, more than one in every four passengers travelling through Delhi Airport is a transit passenger, reflecting the confidence that airlines and travellers place in our connectivity, operational efficiency and seamless travel experience,” said Pradeep Panicker, Chief Executive Officer, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL).
Panicker added that with India rapidly emerging as one of the fastest-growing aviation markets globally, Delhi Airport is uniquely positioned to serve as a key connector for domestic and international networks. DIAL continues to work closely with both domestic and international carriers to strengthen connectivity and align networks, even amidst challenges like the Middle East crisis and high aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices, to maintain its status as a leading transfer hub in the region.