Delhi Airport to Begin International Operations at Pier C in May.

Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) has announced that Pier C at Indira Gandhi International Airport Terminal 3 will begin handling international operations from the first week of May.

The operator said Pier C has been converted from domestic to international use through planning and integration with existing infrastructure, without requiring any new construction.

With this transition, the airport’s international passenger capacity is expected to rise by around 50%, adding capacity for an additional 10 million passengers per annum (MPPA). This will take Terminal 3’s total international handling capacity to about 30–32 MPPA, strengthening its ability to manage rising global traffic.

DIAL has also introduced a range of operational upgrades aimed at improving passenger experience and reducing processing times. These include 12 self-baggage drop counters, 20 emigration counters, five Automatic Tray Retrieval System lanes, dual-view X-ray machines for faster security checks, conversion of 16 boarding gates for international use, and 40 additional Bureau of Immigration counters in arrivals. The airport has also added three escalators and four lifts to ease passenger movement.

Commenting on the development, DIAL CEO Videh Kumar Jaipuriar said the upgrade will enhance long-haul connectivity and support airline expansion plans, aligning with India’s broader goal of becoming a global aviation hub.