Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) in Delhi is a major international gateway in India and the only major airport in the country with a high-speed rail link to the city centre. Whether you’re starting your India adventure, making a connection, or heading home, navigating the three terminals at DEL and unique security procedures takes some know-how. Here’s what you need to make your time here smoother.
How to get to and from DEL and Delhi
The Delhi Metro Orange Line (Airport Express) is your best bet for reaching the city centre. It connects DEL to New Delhi Station in 16 minutes, running every 10 minutes during peak hours and every 15 minutes off-peak at speeds up to 75 mph. I was skeptical the first time I used it, given my mixed experiences with Indian trains, but it’s proven reliable.
The airport sits about 16 km from central Delhi. While some travellers prefer private cars, the Metro beats the alternative in most cases.
The Orange Line runs from 4:45AM to 11:30 PM, not 24 hours. Early morning departures mean you’ll need a taxi or Uber instead. If you go the private car route, expect traffic at any hour. In my experience, the ride takes 45-60 minutes one-way because of the unpredictable congestion in Delhi.
Another potential pitfall of taxis between Delhi and DEL airport? Scams, which will come as no surprise to you if you’ve travelled in India at all. To avoid circuitous routings, fake meters or bogus charges, I recommend using Uber, or even arranging a transfer in advance with your hotel in Delhi.
Transfers at DEL
DEL has three terminals, and connections can get confusing without some homework. Good news: you’re doing that now. Terminal 3 handles all international flights and is the biggest and more modern terminal at the airport. If you’re connecting to domestic flights on full-service carriers like Air India, you’ll stay in Terminal 3 and just pass through immigration, customs, and security. Note that Vistara merged with Air India and now operates under the Air India brand.
Things get complicated when travel on low-cost carriers is involved. IndiGo operates from all three terminals depending on flight numbers—Terminal 1 for most domestic flights, Terminal 2 for flights numbered 6E 2000-2999, and Terminal 3 for flights 6E 5000-5999. SpiceJet operates from Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 (flight numbers SG 8000-8999). Air India Express operates all domestic flights from Terminal 1. Verify your departure terminal well in advance. It could mean the difference between a walk and a taxi or shuttle ride!
I know from personal experience that it can take 20-25 minutes to travel between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2/3, whether by taxi or free airport shuttle bus. Plus, once you reach your destination terminal, you’ll need to clear security (and, if you’re travelling internationally, passport control). As a result, I recommend giving yourself a minimum window of four hours if you need to transfer between Terminals 1 and 3.
Navigating security lines at DEL
DEL runs a more extensive security operation than most North American and European airports. After check-in, you’ll pass through security screening with metal detectors for passengers and x-ray machines for bags. The thorough screening process has become routine for me now, so it doesn’t stress me out like it did initially.
Once you pass this initial security screening and complete any check-in procedures you weren’t able to do online, including bag drop, you’ll proceed to a security screening comparable to what you’d experience at Canadian airports. Here, too, the process is more stringent.
Don’t be surprised if authorities pull you or your belongings aside for additional screening, including physical pat-downs, which are common here. While this can seem intrusive, I’ve noticed the process is handled professionally and efficiently.
For international travellers, DEL does things backward. You’ll complete passport control before security, opposite from most airports where security comes first. Don’t be surprised when the first person you see after check-in is an immigration officer.
In terms of security, DEL does not offer any program comparable to TSA Precheck in the US. However, if you are travelling internationally in first or business class, you can access priority lanes for both immigration clearance and security screening. The airport also offers Fast-track Immigration Lanes for Trusted Traveller Program members, including Indian nationals and OCI cardholders. Some private companies also claim to sell access to these lanes, but since this is not officially allowed, I would avoid taking them up on their offers.
Closely follow your airline’s recommendations for how early to reach the airport, as this will take into account expected security processing time. Since many international flights depart only once per day (or even less than daily), missing your flight at DEL is a mistake you’ll want to avoid making.
Transit hotel at DEL
DEL has an airside Holiday Inn Express you can access without leaving the secure area. This is rare for Indian airports and convenient if you’re connecting between international flights and don’t want to enter India. The hotel also has a domestic section for overnight stays between international and domestic flights. It costs more than off-site options, but the convenience is worth it for many travellers.
Airline lounges and alternatives at DEL
A variety of airport lounges are available at DEL, with the majority of these operating within Terminal 3 across both the domestic and international departure areas. The lounge you can access will vary, depending upon your class of travel, your airline elite status and whether you plan to gain access by paying cash, or by using a credential such as Priority Pass.
Airlines will direct international first- and business-class passengers to Encalm Prive. This is a common-use lounge not affiliated with or run by a particular carrier. With buffet-style Indian and Western dining, as well as limited chef-cooked meals, an open bar, a business centre and shower facilities, it’s a high-end lounge option at DEL.
Encalm also operates the slightly more basic Encalm Lounge, which is accessible to Priority Pass card holders, regardless of travel class. The American Express Centurion Lounge is located in the domestic departures area of Terminal 3. Encalm Hospitality operates the lounges at Delhi Airport.
Notably, Air India’s Maharaja Lounge, its flagship lounge, is currently closed for renovation and expected to reopen in the future. If you’re travelling in international first or business class on Air India, you’ll get access to Encalm Prive instead.
Domestic travellers have several lounge options as well. The domestic Air India Lounge in Terminal 3 remains open, even as the international Maharaja Lounge is under renovation. Additionally, Encalm operates Encalm Lounges in Terminals 1 and 2, as well as in the domestic area of Terminal 3.
One unique fact about New Delhi Airport is that nearly all its lounges allow paid access. This is in contrast to many lounges in North America and Europe, where access is based primarily on either your travel class or your status with an airline. If you have a long layover but don’t want to splurge on a stay at the airport’s transit hotel, paying for lounge access can be a nice compromise.
Luggage storage at DEL
Passengers using Terminal 3 can take advantage of the spacious CloakRoom, which has the capacity to store thousands of bags for as little as an hour or as long as 30 days. Rates range from 100 rupees for storing a small bag for up to two hours, to 600 rupees to store a large bag for a day.
If you’re arriving at Terminal 1 or 2 and need to store your luggage at the airport, I think it’s worth it to go to Terminal 3 to use this official facility. Scams run rampant in India—there’s a real chance that if you deposit your belongings somewhere else, you’ll never see them again. I may or may not be speaking from personal experience!
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others.
