Delhi Airport to Expand International Capacity by 50% as Terminal 3 Pier C Goes Global in May.

Indira Gandhi International Airport is set to significantly expand its international passenger handling capacity, with Pier C at Terminal 3 (T3) scheduled to begin international operations from the first week of May, according to airport operator Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL).

At present, T3 is the airport’s sole terminal handling international flights, with an annual capacity of about 20 million passengers. With the conversion of Pier C from domestic to international operations, this capacity is expected to rise to 30–32 million passengers per annum—an increase of nearly 50 per cent.

T3 currently has four piers—A, B, C and D. While Piers A and B have been used for international services and C and D for domestic operations, the reconfiguration will shift Pier C to international use, adding capacity for an estimated 10 million additional passengers annually.

DIAL said the expansion comes amid expectations that India’s international air traffic will grow at around 7 per cent in the medium term, positioning Delhi airport as a key hub for managing rising demand.

The upgraded Pier C is also expected to enhance operational efficiency, featuring 16 Code C aircraft stands and associated gates that will support faster aircraft turnaround and improved gate allocation. The number of wide-body aircraft stands dedicated to international operations is expected to increase by about 40 per cent.

DIAL CEO Videh Kumar Jaipuriar said the development will strengthen the airport’s ability to support long-haul connectivity and airline expansion plans, aligning with efforts to position Delhi as a global aviation hub.

Alongside the pier upgrade, additional enhancements are underway at T3, including 12 new self-baggage drop counters (taking the total to 26), conversion of 16 boarding gates for international use, and the installation of 40 additional immigration counters in the arrivals area.

Operated by the GMR Group-led DIAL consortium, Indira Gandhi International Airport has a total annual passenger handling capacity of about 106 million across its three terminals—T1, T2, and T3.