Delhi’s Gateway Gets Golden Wings: Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) Ranks Among Top 10 Hubs

Unknown Apr 02, 2026 900 Views

Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) of Delhi has become the first Indian airport to find a place in the top 10 hub airports of the Asia-Pacific and Middle East region, as per the 2024 Air Connectivity Ranking of Airports Council International Asia-Pacific & Middle East (ACI APAC &...

IGIA's Historic Achievement

The only Indian airport to rank among the top 10 hub airports in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East, IGIA ranks tenth on the elite list.
The new 'Hub Connectivity Index' is the basis of the ranking that measures airports by their hub quality and effectiveness of operations, such as transfer viability, route deviations, and onward connectivity strength.

Global Context and Competitors

Dubai International Airport tops the 2024 Hub Connectivity Index, followed by Shanghai Pudong (China) and Hamad International (Qatar).
Other top 10 airports are Incheon (South Korea), Guangzhou Baiyun and Beijing Capital (China), Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (Thailand), Singapore Changi, and Kuala Lumpur International (Malaysia).

Connectivity and Expansion

IGIA has seamless connectivity to 153 destinations—81 domestic and 72 international routes currently.
The airport provides connectivity to 88% of India's long-haul destinations and operates 56% of all India-origin long-haul weekly flights.
Over the years, IGIA has expanded its international footprint by introducing more than 20 exclusive international destinations, such as Phnom Penh, Bali Denpasar, Calgary, Montreal, Vancouver, Washington Dulles, Chicago O'Hare, and Tokyo Haneda.

Passenger Growth and Infrastructure

November 2024 witnessed IGIA record its highest-ever monthly passenger traffic of over 6.7 million passengers—a year-on-year growth of almost 12%.
The Phase 3A expansion of the airport has doubled its international transfer area, substantially increasing capacity and passenger convenience.

Recognition and Vision

The ranking supports the Indian government's vision to make IGIA one of the world's finest global transit hubs
The CEO of Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), Videh Kumar Jaipuriar, added that the achievement reflects the airport's dedication to excellence, innovation, and customer-centric service.

Regional Aviation Trends

The 2024 ACI report points to a 14% year-over-year growth in total connectivity over Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, fueled by robust overseas demand and the revival of key travel routes in the post-pandemic era.

Sources: The New Indian Express, Times of India, The Indian Express, Economic Times Infra, CNBC TV18, Deccan Chronicle, Millennium Post, Rediff]

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