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Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in Delhi handled over 6.7 lakh transit passengers between Asia and Europe in the past year, marking a 34 % increase from around 4.98 lakh a year earlier. The growth highlights Delhi�s emergence as a preferred hub for connecting flights between the two regions. Air India contributed nearly two-thirds of the east-west transit flow, followed by IndiGo with one-fourth. Japan Airlines� upcoming daily service to Tokyo Narita, beginning in early 2026, is expected to further strengthen IGIA�s global connectivity.
Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), the operator of Indira Gandhi International Airport, has reported a sharp increase in the number of passengers transiting between Asia and Europe. Between September 2024 and August 2025, the airport handled over 6.7 lakh transfer passengers, compared to about 4.98 lakh during the same period a year earlier. The rise of 34 % reflects IGIA?s growing importance as a key transfer hub linking Asian and European destinations. Advertisement
According to DIAL, traffic moving from East to West rose by 34 %, while the opposite flow from West to East increased by 35 %. Air India accounted for nearly 67 % of all east-to-west transfer passengers, largely due to its extensive Europe network and new long-haul connections through Delhi. IndiGo contributed another 25 %, supported by its codeshare operations and growing international footprint.
Officials at DIAL said the airport?s central location and growing range of international flights have made it an increasingly viable alternative to established global hubs. Improved terminal facilities and faster transfer times have also supported this growth. In addition to passenger traffic, DIAL noted that the number of transfer bags handled increased in proportion, indicating more through connections rather than point-to-point journeys.
The upcoming expansion of services is expected to sustain this upward trend. Japan Airlines will introduce a new daily Delhi?Tokyo Narita route using a Boeing 787-8 aircraft starting in January 2026. This addition is projected to serve about 49,000 passengers annually and will make Delhi the only Indian airport connected to both Tokyo Haneda and Tokyo Narita. The new route is anticipated to strengthen travel demand for both business and leisure segments and enhance Delhi?s position as a transit point for traffic between East Asia and Europe.
Delhi Airport, which is managed by DIAL, currently has a capacity to handle over 100 million passengers per year. It remains India?s busiest airport, catering to more than 60 international airlines and operating direct connections to over 140 destinations. Industry observers have noted that the strong rise in connecting traffic aligns with broader efforts by Indian carriers to position Delhi as a global aviation hub under the government?s civil aviation vision.
Source: PTI
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