IndiGo, Akasa Air shift to Delhi’s Terminal 1 as T2 closes for maintenance

IndiGo and Akasa Air shifted their domestic flight operations to Terminal 1 (T1) at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) from Tuesday, as Terminal 2 (T2) temporarily closes for maintenance work, airport operator DIAL said.

The newly expanded T1 becomes fully operational today, April 15, while T2, which handles 270-280 daily air traffic movements and over 46,000 passengers, will remain shut for refurbishment.

One of the airport’s four runways is also closed for maintenance.

IGIA, India’s largest and busiest airport, has three terminals – T1, T2, and T3 – and is operated by Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL). Currently, T1 and T2 cater exclusively to domestic flights.

Civil Aviation Secretary Vumlunmang Vualnam assured there would be no congestion despite T2’s closure.

“T1 has now become fully operational... proper assessment has been done. So, T1 will cover whatever capacity is required,” he told PTI Videos.

"Between the T1 fully expanded and fully operational and T3, we should be able to meet the passenger requirements whatever is there.”

The expanded T1 can accommodate 40 million passengers annually, with T3 handling 45 million and T2, 15 million, according to DIAL.

The new T1 features 100 check-in counters, including 36 self-baggage drop kiosks, 108 common usage self-service kiosks, and 20 automated tray retrieval systems for smoother security checks.

Its baggage handling capacity has increased from 3,240 to 6,000 bags per hour, with 10 baggage reclaim carousels. The terminal area has grown from 55,740 sq m to 2,06,950 sq m, integrating arrival and departure facilities.

IndiGo, in a statement, said it is proactively informing passengers about the terminal change via SMS, calls, and emails. The airline advised checking PNR details on its website or app to confirm departure and arrival terminals.

Akasa Air, in a post on X, confirmed its Delhi flights will operate from T1 (1D) starting April 15. “Our teams are working diligently to ensure a seamless transition of our operations from Terminal 2 to Terminal 1,” it said.

DIAL had earlier announced that T2, over four decades old, will undergo refurbishment for four to six months, with completion expected by September.