Delhi airport's T2 to be shut for refurbishment works in FY2025-26

Terminal 2 (T2) of Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport will be closed for four to six months next financial year after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) reportedly asked the operator to undertake a comprehensive overhaul of the four-decade-old terminal.

The refurbishment works are set to begin in 2025-26 and are expected to be completed in the September quarter, according to Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL).

"Terminal 2 will undergo a temporary shutdown for approximately 4 to 6 months to complete these improvements,” DIAL said in a release.

"The temporary closure of Terminal 2 is expected to cause minimal disruption to operations, as the newly developed Terminal 1 will absorb the additional load, ensuring continued service to passengers," it added.

The revamp will include both the terminal building as well as the airside, reported Hindustan Times quoting people aware of the matter.

India’s busiest Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) has three terminals – T1, T2 and T3.

T2, built by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) around 40 years ago, is currently used exclusively for domestic flights, along with Terminal 1.

"The decades-old terminal will undergo significant upgrades aimed at elevating the passenger experience and increasing the airport's capacity to meet future growth demands," the release said.

Describing the refurbishment of T2 as the need of the hour, DIAL CEO Videh Kumar Jaipuriar said the overall passenger experience will be enhanced by upgrading key infrastructure, improving operational efficiency, and elevating passenger comfort.

"With the terminal's projected passenger capacity expected to reach its peak by FY 2025-26, these enhancements will be crucial in supporting the growing demand for air travel, particularly for domestic passengers," he noted.

Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) has scrapped its earlier plan of converting T2 into a short-haul international terminal, according to an HT report.

“T2 is being renovated after DGCA had flagged the need for it last year. After repairs, both T1 and T2 will operate domestic flights, while T3 will be majorly for international operations only,” HT quoted an official as saying.