Indira Gandhi International Airport is the largest international airport serving Delhi, India and the rest of Northern India. The aerodrome was established on an area of 5.106 acres. Located in the Palam district of Southwest Delhi, the airport is 15 km from New Delhi Railway Station and 16 km from New Delhi city centre. The airport, named after the former Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, has been India’s busiest airport in terms of passenger traffic since 2009. Private jet charter services across the country also use Indira Gandhi International Airport intensively.
By the end of 2015, it surpassed Mumbai and became the busiest airport in the country in terms of cargo traffic. According to Asian passenger traffic, an average of 70 million passengers use the port. The port holds the first place in the world’s busiest airport for Airbus A320 aircraft. The expansion program under construction will enable the airport to reach a carrying capacity of 100 million passengers by 2030.
The aerodrome was operated by the Indian Air Force before its management was handed over to the Airports Authority of India. In May 2006, the management of the airport was transferred to Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), a consortium led by GMR Group.
India private jet charter prices
Although India air charter fees depend on variables such as the number of passengers, departure airport, flight time, aircraft position, flight date, the prices for private jet charter from Istanbul → Delhi are as follows.
| Midsize Jet | 51.650 EUR |
| Heavy Jet | 64.600 EUR |
| Long Range Jet | 82.650 EUR |
These prices are average amounts and you can contact us on our flight reservation screen or by phone for the most accurate price information
Indira Gandhi Airport from 1930 to the present
Safdarjung Airport was built in 1930 and was Delhi’s main airport until 1962. Civil operations were relocated to Palam Airport (later renamed IGIA) in 1962 due to increased passenger traffic in Safdarjung. Palam Airport was built as RAF Station Palam during World War II and served as an Air Force Station for the Indian Air Force after the British left.
Palam Airport was the port with the highest capacity in the country with approximately 1.300 passengers per hour. In 1979-80, a total of 3 million domestic and foreign passengers arrived and departed Palam Airport. Due to the increase in air traffic in the 70s and 80s, an additional terminal was built, about four times the size of the old Palam terminal. With the opening of this new international terminal, Terminal 2, on May 2, 1986, the name of the airport was changed to Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA).
The old domestic aerodrome (Palam) continued to serve as Terminal 1 and was split into separate buildings 1A, 1B and 1C. Blocks 1A and 1B were used for international operations, while domestic operations took place in 1C. Significant growth in the Indian aviation industry in the early 2000s resulted in a huge increase in passenger traffic. The capacity of Terminal 1 is estimated to be 7,15 million passengers per year.
The actual business volume for 2005/06 was an estimated 10,4 million passengers. Including the closed international terminal (Terminal 2), the total annual capacity of the airport was 12,5 million passengers, while the total passenger traffic in 2006/07 was 16,5 million passengers per year. In 2008, the total number of passengers at the airport reached 23,97 million. A much larger Terminal 3 was built to alleviate traffic congestion at the existing terminals and opened on July 3, 2010. The new terminal, which was completed in 37 months, increased the total passenger capacity of the airport by 34 million.
Places to visit in New Delhi
The capital city of Delhi, one of the most tourist-attracting cities in India, is the most modern city in the country. In the city, many points that attract the attention of tourists in general consist of historical artifacts, and one of them is the Humayun Shah Tomb, the resting place of the Mughal Emperor Humayun.
The Qutub Minaret, the second highest monument in Delhi, the Lal (Red) Fortress, which is named after its red sandstone walls, the Gate of India, also known as the India War Memorial, and the Lotus Temple, which hosts the most visitors in the world, are among the most visited points of the country and the city.
In addition, Lodhi Garden, National Gandhi Museum, Hauz Khas Village, National Museum, Qutab Minar and Gandhi Smriti are among the other tourist attractions of the city.
Transportation from the airport to New Delhi
The nearest railway station is the Palam railway station, which is 4,8 kilometers and 12 kilometers away from Terminals 1 and 3, respectively. Several passenger trains run regularly between these stations. Shahabad Mohammadpur railway station is equally close.
Terminals 2 and 3 of the airport are served by the IGI Airport metro station on the Delhi Airport Metro Express line. The 22,7 km line extends from Dwarka Sector 21 to New Delhi metro station where trains depart every 10 minutes. Terminal 1 is served by the Terminal 1-IGI Airport metro station on the Magenta Line.
The aerodrome is connected to the 8-lane Delhi-Gurgaon Highway, which is the busiest intercity route of India. Air-conditioned low-floor buses operated by Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) run regularly between the airport and the city. Metered taxis are also available from Terminals 1 and 3 to all parts of Delhi.
