New Delhi, 03 November 2025, Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL), managed and operated by the GMR Aero led consortium, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), continues to redefine India’s international connectivity, consolidating its position as the country’s foremost global hub bridging East and West.
In the 12 months from September 2024 to August 2025, Delhi Airport handled over 6.7 lakh (670,000) East West East transit passengers, marking a 34 Percent year on year increase compared to 4.98 lakh (498,000) in the previous year. Of this, East to West passenger traffic grew 34 Percent, while West-to-East traffic rose 35 Percent, underscoring Delhi’s growing relevance as a preferred international transit/transfer point between Asia and Europe.
Among airlines facilitating this growth, Air India contributed 67 Percent of East to West transit or transfer traffic, followed by IndiGo with 25 Percent, reaffirming the strong partnership between Indian carriers and Delhi Airport in enhancing global connectivity, as per IATA data.
Air India and IndiGo together handle over 90 Percent of the total passenger traffic through Delhi. DIAL has been closely collaborating with both carriers to strengthen East to West hub connectivity and position Delhi Airport as a leading global transfer hub.
“With its unmatched network spanning Europe, East Asia, and Southeast Asia, Delhi Airport continues to strengthen India’s position on the global aviation map. Whether it is business travel to London, tourism to Bangkok, or cultural exchange with Tokyo, Delhi Airport connects India to the world, truly serving as the Gateway between the East and the West. The sharp rise in East -West passenger flows is a strong testament to the airport’s growing role as a global transit or transfer hub, said Mr. Videh Kumar Jaipuriar, CEO, DIAL. We remain focused on expanding connectivity, enhancing convenience, and offering greater choice for international travelers across continents.
Expanding Horizons, Strengthening India to Thailand Connectivity
Delhi Airport has further consolidated its position as India’s leading gateway to Thailand, now operating 120 weekly departures to four destinations, Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang), Phuket, and Krabi, representing 26 Percent of India’s total flights to Thailand (as per IATA/DIAL data). A new route to Krabi commenced on 26 October 2025, expanding leisure connectivity to one of Southeast Asia’s most sought-after destinations.
Across India, airports operate a total of 458 weekly flights to Thailand, led by Delhi (26 Percent share), followed by Mumbai (21 Percent) and Bengaluru (11 Percent).
Southeast Asia Connectivity Strengthened
Beyond Thailand, Delhi Airport’s Southeast Asia network continues to grow rapidly with expanded frequencies and new routes,
- Air India will increase flights on the Delhi to Kuala Lumpur (DEL to KUL) route from 7 to 10 weekly, effective 16 November 2025.
- Air India will also increase flights on the Delhi to Denpasar (Bali) (DEL to DPS) route from 7 to 10 weekly, effective 1 December 2025.
- IndiGo will launch daily services between Delhi and Hanoi (DEL to HAN) from 20 December 2025, enhancing connectivity to Vietnam.
- IndiGo will also start daily flights between Delhi and Guangzhou (DEL to CAN) from 10 November 2025, marking the first scheduled passenger service between India and China post COVID.
These expansions further reinforce Delhi’s position as the most connected airport in South and Southeast Asia, catering to surging leisure and business travel demand across the region.
Connecting India to the West, Strongest UK Network
Delhi Airport offers the widest and most frequent connectivity to the United Kingdom among all Indian airports, commanding a 38 Percent national share of India to UK flights, with Air India launching its fourth daily service between Delhi (DEL) and Heathrow (LHR). With 63 weekly departures to London Heathrow (56 Times), Birmingham (3 times), and Manchester (4x), Delhi remains the only Indian airport directly linked to three major UK cities.
A major milestone in this expansion will be the launch of IndiGo’s first long-haul international service, Delhi to Manchester, starting 15 November 2025, operated four times weekly using a Boeing 787 to 789 Dreamliner. The route is expected to handle 65,000 passengers annually, further enhancing Delhi’s role as the premier gateway for business, tourism, and student traffic to the UK.
Connecting India to the East, Japan’s Twin Gateways
Eastward, Delhi leads India’s air connectivity to Japan, operating 28 weekly flights to Tokyo’s Haneda (21 Times) and Narita (7 Times) airports commanding a 70 Percent share of all India to Japan flights.
From 18 January 2026, Japan Airlines is expected to launch a daily Delhi-Tokyo Narita service using a Boeing 787 and 788 Dreamliner, expected to carry 49,000 passengers annually. With this addition, Delhi will host four daily flights to Tokyo, making it the only Indian airport connected to both Haneda and Narita.
Strategic Significance, Delhi as a True International Hub
With leading frequencies to Europe (UK), East Asia (Japan, Thailand), and Southeast Asia, Delhi Airport stands out as the only Indian gateway offering balanced, long-haul connectivity to major global destinations in both directions.
| Key Highlights | |
| Category | Details |
| Passenger Traffic (Sep’24 - Aug’25) | 670,000 East -West -East passengers handled, up 34 Percent year on year |
| Key Airlines Handling East -West Flow | Air India and IndiGo together account for over 90 Percent of the total flow via Delhi |
| International Connectivity | 72 Plus international destinations directly served from Delhi |
| India to Thailand Connectivity | Number 1 in India -Thailand connectivity with 120 weekly flights (26 Percent share) |
| India to UK Connectivity | Number 1 in India -UK connectivity with 63 weekly flights (38 Percent share) |
| India to Japan Connectivity | Number 1 in India -Japan connectivity with 28 weekly flights (70 Percent share) |
At a Glance - Expansions from Delhi
- IndiGo, Delhi to Krabi, started from Oct 26, 2025.
- IndiGo, Delhi to Manchester, from 15 Nov 2025.
- IndiGo, Delhi to Guangzhou from 10 Nov 2025 (first post COVID China service).
- Air India, Delhi - Kuala Lumpur, increased to 10 weekly from 16 Nov 2025.
- Air India, Delhi - Denpasar (Bali), increased to 10 weekly from 1 Dec 2025.
- IndiGo, Delhi to Hanoi, new daily service from 20 Dec 2025.
- Japan Airlines, Delhi to Tokyo Narita, new daily service from 18 Jan 2026.
With its strategic location, robust air network, and state of the art facilities, Delhi Airport continues to strengthen its position as India’s premier international transit hub, seamlessly connecting passengers from the East to the West - and back.
About GMR Airports Limited (Formerly GMR Airports Infrastructure Limited)
GMR Airports Limited (GAL) is a leading global airport platform company with over two decades of experience in designing, constructing, and operating world class sustainable airports. Under the brand name GMR AERO, it offers pioneering aviation solutions in retail, aero services, and real estate. Groupe ADP joined the journey in 2020 as a strategic partner and is now a co promoter in GAL.
As a platform business, GAL also provides a range of aero services including Duty Free, Retail, F and B, Cargo, Car Parking, O and M, and PMC services. Through its innovative Aerotropolis concept, it develops cutting edge airport cities giving shape to best in class real estate developments in South Asia. GAL operates India's largest third party Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility through its subsidiary, GMR Air Cargo and Aerospace Engineering Limited ensuring operational excellence across the Asia Pacific region.
GMR Innovex, a GMR Group entity, is developing and introducing a range of digital solutions to enhance the passenger journey and airport experience. Through GMR Aero Academy and GMR School of Aviation, the company is creating the talent pool necessary to drive the growth of the aviation sector in India (the third largest in the world).
As the largest private airport operator in Asia and the second largest globally, GAL served over 120 million passengers in year 2025 with a steadfast commitment to excellence in airport management as reflected in its consistent rankings for services by ACI and Skytrax. With a robust presence in India and Southeast Asia, the company operates key gateways such as Delhi, Hyderabad, Goa, and Medan airports, while extending its technical services to Mactan Cebu International Airport in the Philippines. GAL is also developing transformative projects like the greenfield airports in Bhogapuram (Visakhapatnam), India, and Crete, Greece.
GMR Group, the promoter of GAL has a significant presence in Energy, Transportation, Urban Infrastructure, and Sports. Through its CSR arm, GMR Varalakshmi Foundation, GMR supports local communities, reflecting its commitment to improving quality of life by enhancing skills, providing education, and developing healthcare infrastructure and services.
Groupe ADP develops and manages airports, including Paris Charles de Gaulle, Paris Orly, and Paris Le Bourget. In 2024, the group handled through its brand Paris Aéroport 103.4 million passengers at Paris Charles de Gaulle and Paris Orly, and nearly 363.7 million passengers in airports in France and abroad. Boasting an exceptional geographic location and a major catchment area, the Group is pursuing its strategy of adapting and modernizing its terminal facilities and upgrading the quality of services, the Group also intends to develop its retail and real estate businesses. In 2024, group revenue stood at 6,158 million Euros and net income at 342 million Euros.
For further information about GMR Group, visit https://www.gmrgroup.com
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For Further Information, please contact:
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- Subhendu Ray
- Sarvottamjee Jaipuriar
- Head-Media Relations
- Manager - Media Relations
- Email: subhendu.ray@gmrgroup.in
- Email: sarvottamjee.jaipuriar@gmrgroup.in
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