Delhi Airport Terminal Guide
Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) has three passenger terminals, and the split is by airline and flight number rather than by destination: Terminal 3 handles every international flight and the full-service domestic airlines, Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 handle the domestic low-cost carriers. Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 stand together on the north side of the runways; Terminal 1 is about 7 km away by road on the south side. This guide describes each terminal, the transfer between them, what stays open overnight and which hotel serves each, as of September 2026.
Terminal 3
Terminal 3 is the main terminal, with the international and domestic piers under one roof, opened in 2010. Check-in is on the departures level, arrivals below it, and the Airport Express Line station, the prepaid taxi counters, the Multi-Level Car Park with the app-cab pickup and the bus stands are on the lower levels. It handles every international flight, Air India’s domestic network and the IndiGo flights numbered 6E 5000 to 5999 plus all IndiGo international flights. The landside halls are open 24 hours, and the Holiday Inn Express New Delhi International Airport T3 is on Level 5 with a domestic wing and an international wing, both airside, for passengers departing from Terminal 3 within 24 hours. The Encalm and Plaza Premium lounges are described in the lounges guide.
Terminal 2
Terminal 2 reopened in late October 2025 after renovation and handles domestic flights only, at present the IndiGo flights numbered 6E 2000 to 2999. It stands next to Terminal 3, joined by a covered walkway of a few hundred metres, and shares its Airport Express Line station, taxi counters and hotels. Passengers connecting between a Terminal 2 domestic flight and a Terminal 3 international flight walk between the two; the airport recommends 3 hours between flights because the connection is landside and involves a second security check.
Terminal 1
Terminal 1 is the domestic low-cost terminal, rebuilt in 2024 with a combined departures and arrivals building, and handles most IndiGo, SpiceJet and Akasa domestic flights. Its metro station, Terminal 1-IGI Airport on the Magenta Line, is joined to the terminal by a covered walkway with travelators; the Magenta Line does not run to Terminal 3. Rapido and the other app cabs pick up outside arrivals, and the prepaid counters are inside. There is no hotel at Terminal 1: Aerocity, about 8 km by road, is the nearest hotel district, and the Radisson Blu Plaza Delhi Airport on NH48 is about 6 km away.
The free shuttle between the terminals
A free inter-terminal shuttle bus runs between Terminal 1 and Terminals 2 and 3 about every 20 minutes for transit passengers with a same-day onward boarding pass; collect a coupon at the kiosk in the arrivals hall and allow 20 to 30 minutes for the 7 km. Passengers without an onward boarding pass, or in a hurry, take a prepaid taxi or an app cab for about ₹300 to ₹400. There is no rail link between Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, because the Airport Express Line and the Magenta Line do not meet at the airport; the change at Dwarka Sector 21 and Janakpuri West via the Blue Line takes about an hour and is not worth it with luggage.
Hotels by terminal
For Terminal 3 and Terminal 2 the choice is the transit hotel on Level 5 or the Aerocity hotels one metro stop away: the JW Marriott Hotel New Delhi Aerocity and the Andaz Delhi Aerocity for a five-star stay, the Holiday Inn New Delhi Aerocity with a free shuttle on direct bookings, and the ibis New Delhi Aerocity with breakfast from 4:00 am. For Terminal 1 every hotel is a cab ride away; the Aerocity hotels are about 15 to 20 minutes by road, and the hotel transfers guide lists each hotel’s arrangement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which terminal does my airline use at Delhi Airport?
Terminal 3 handles every international flight and the domestic flights of Air India, including the former Vistara network, and IndiGo flights numbered 6E 5000 to 5999. Terminal 1 handles most IndiGo, SpiceJet and Akasa domestic flights, and Terminal 2 handles IndiGo flights numbered 6E 2000 to 2999. Check the boarding pass, because IndiGo splits by flight number rather than by route.
How do I get between Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 at Delhi Airport?
A free inter-terminal shuttle bus runs about every 20 minutes for transit passengers with a same-day boarding pass, with a coupon from the kiosk at the terminal; allow 20 to 30 minutes for the 7 km. Taxis and app cabs make the same trip for about ₹300 to ₹400, and there is no direct metro link because Terminal 1 is on the Magenta Line and Terminal 3 on the Airport Express Line.
Are Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 connected at Delhi Airport?
Yes, they stand side by side and are joined by a walkway of a few hundred metres, sharing the Airport Express Line station. Terminal 2 reopened in October 2025 for domestic flights only after its renovation.
Information last verified: September 25, 2026