Delhi airport terminal changes October 2026: which IndiGo and Air India flights move, and what connecting passengers need to do
By Vihaan Patel (Vihaan Patel covers the intersection of travel and digital payments — Indian OTAs, airline-direct booking flows, UPI vs credit-card surcharges, RBI tokenisation rules and the booking-funnel mechanics that quietly cost (or save) you money.) · Published · 10 min read
Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport is reshuffling terminals again from around October 26 2026, with IndiGo shifting a subset of its domestic operations to the refurbished T2, and Air India consolidating its own domestics at T3. If you have a connecting itinerary through Delhi, that inter-terminal transfer budget you planned needs a rethink.
TL;DR — what is changing and when
From around 26 October 2026 (IATA winter schedule start), IndiGo is expected to shift a batch of its domestic flights — primarily those on metro-to-metro routes — from T1 to the refurbished Terminal 2 at Delhi's IGI Airport. Air India, which already operates the bulk of its network from T3, is consolidating its remaining domestic services there as well. T1 continues to handle IndiGo's remaining domestics and Air India Express operations. If you are transiting through Delhi, the terminal you arrive at and the one your onward flight departs from may no longer be the same. Budget at least 90 minutes — ideally two hours — for an inter-terminal transfer, more during peak hours. Check your boarding pass for the terminal code the moment your booking is confirmed; do not rely on memory of what used to be the case.
Note: exact flight-number-level allocations are subject to change until DGCA/AAI formally publishes the season-change notices. Verify your specific flight's terminal on the IndiGo or Air India booking page, or on the IGIA official site (newdelhiairport.in), at least a week before travel.
Which IndiGo flight numbers are moving to T2?
IndiGo has historically operated all its Delhi domestic flights from T1 — which, if you have ever arrived at midnight and waited 40 minutes for a bus to the terminal, you will know is not exactly IGIA's finest hour. The refurbishment of T2 (which previously handled some Air India domestic flights and Jet Airways operations before Jet's collapse) gives IndiGo room to expand without the T1 capacity crunch.
Broadly, the move is expected to affect higher-frequency, higher-yield metro routes — think Delhi–Mumbai, Delhi–Bangalore, Delhi–Hyderabad, Delhi–Chennai. The logic is that T2's larger gate infrastructure and aerobridge count suits wide-body and high-turnover narrow-body operations better than T1's bus-gate setup. Lower-traffic tier-2 and tier-3 routes may stay at T1 longer.
However — and this is important — IndiGo has not published a definitive flight-by-flight list as of this writing. The airline typically updates terminal information on your booking confirmation and the IndiGo app (check under 'My Bookings' → flight details) closer to the travel date. Do not assume based on this article alone: check the IndiGo website or app for your specific 6E flight number. The IGIA departures board also shows terminal allocations live.
What is happening to Air India domestic flights at Delhi?
Air India has operated domestics from T3 for years, and that is not changing — T3 remains Air India's home. What is changing is that Air India is pulling some of its remaining domestic operations that were running out of T2 into T3 to consolidate. For most Air India domestic passengers, this is a net positive: T3 is the best-equipped terminal at IGIA, with better lounges, more retail, and faster immigration for international arrivals connecting to domestic.
Air India Express — the merged low-cost arm that now carries the old AirAsia India network — operates international routes from T3 but some domestic services from T2. Again, check your specific booking; Air India Express and Air India mainline have separate check-in counters even when in the same terminal.
One practical note: Air India and Air India Express are separate airlines with separate PNRs even if marketed as group fares. If you booked a codeshare or connecting itinerary involving both, confirm which terminal each segment departs from independently.
How long does an inter-terminal transfer at Delhi actually take?
The honest answer: more than the optimistic estimate. Here is how long each transfer realistically takes:
- T1 to T3 (or vice versa): The free inter-terminal shuttle bus runs roughly every 15–20 minutes from the dedicated bus bays outside arrivals. The ride itself is about 10–12 minutes. Add baggage-claim wait (15–30 minutes on domestic), reaching the bus bay, waiting for the next bus, and getting through T3 security — you are looking at 60–90 minutes minimum, and easily 2 hours during peak morning/evening slots.
- T2 to T3 (or vice versa): T2 and T3 are adjacent and connected by a short connector road. The free shuttle here is faster — often 5–8 minutes ride — but you still need to factor in arriving at departures and re-clearing security. Realistically allow 60–75 minutes.
- T1 to T2: These two are on the same side of the airport (domestic terminal cluster). Transfer time is around 25–35 minutes by shuttle, but security re-clearance adds time.
The inter-terminal transfer shuttle is free for ticketed passengers. Keep your boarding pass or e-ticket handy — you will need to show it at the shuttle boarding point. Do not try to take an auto or taxi between terminals unless you are departing and have checked luggage re-checked; the road loop around the airport adds time and you will still have to re-clear security on the other side.
How should connecting passengers re-plan their itineraries?
If you booked a single-PNR connecting itinerary (both legs on the same airline, same booking), the airline is responsible for getting you on the next available flight if you miss the connection due to the first leg's delay. What they are not responsible for is a missed connection on a self-transfer (two separate bookings, even on the same airline) or on mismatched airline combinations.
For domestic-to-domestic self-transfers through Delhi after the terminal reshuffle:
- Arriving IndiGo at T1 / departing IndiGo at T2: Build in at least 2 hours. Arriving at T2 / departing from T1 is the same math. Two hours is not excessive — it is the prudent minimum.
- Arriving IndiGo at T1 / departing Air India at T3: Two hours minimum, ideally 2.5 hours. These are the furthest terminals apart.
- Arriving at T3 / departing IndiGo at T1 or T2: Same — 2 hours is the floor.
If you are searching for connecting itineraries, FlightGPT's AI search can help you spot the best fare combinations across airlines — but always check which terminal each leg uses before you book, especially if you are self-transferring. You can also see route pages for specific origin-destination pairs to understand typical schedule options.
One more thing: checked baggage on a self-transfer must be collected and re-checked. Even if you are connecting IndiGo to IndiGo, two separate PNRs means you collect your bag at carousel, go to departures, and check in again. Factor that into your time budget.
What about lounge access during a Delhi connection?
T3 has the best lounge situation at IGIA — Encalm Prestige (international) and the Encalm domestic lounge are both well-regarded, and Plaza Premium also operates here. T2, after the refurbishment, is expected to have lounge facilities as well, though the footprint is smaller than T3. T1 has limited lounge options — the domestic lounge there is functional but basic.
If you are using a credit-card-based lounge access benefit, confirm whether your card's programme covers the specific lounge at the specific terminal you will be in. Post-DreamFolks (more on that in our DreamFolks wind-down explainer), access is now managed through direct bank-to-operator contracts and the guest experience at the entry point varies. Some banks have moved to QR-code verification via their own apps; others still use a physical card swipe.
Quick checklist before your Delhi connection
- Check the terminal code on your boarding pass or booking confirmation — not what the terminal used to be.
- For connections under 90 minutes across different terminals at IGIA: book a different itinerary or accept that it is a risky self-transfer.
- Domestic check-in on IndiGo closes 45 minutes before departure (web check-in window: 48 hours to 60 minutes before). Air India domestics close 45 minutes before as well. Miss that and you are buying a new ticket.
- The IGIA app and newdelhiairport.in have a live flight information board with terminal details.
- If your first flight is delayed and you have a same-PNR connection, tell the cabin crew before landing — they can radio ahead and there is often a ground handler waiting to escort you.
Frequently asked questions
Which terminal does IndiGo use at Delhi airport in 2026?
IndiGo is expected to split operations between T1 (existing) and T2 (expanded from around October 2026 onwards). The specific terminal for your flight depends on the route and flight number — check your IndiGo booking confirmation or the IndiGo app under 'My Bookings' for the exact terminal. Do not assume; verify a week before travel.
How long does the T1 to T3 transfer take at Delhi airport?
Realistically 60–90 minutes including baggage claim, the free inter-terminal shuttle (every 15–20 minutes, ~10 minutes ride), and re-clearing security at T3. During morning peak (6–10am) or evening peak (5–9pm), budget 2 hours to be safe.
Does Air India still fly from T3 at Delhi?
Yes. Air India mainline operates internationally and domestically from T3. Air India Express domestics may use T2 — check your specific booking confirmation for the terminal code.
Is the inter-terminal shuttle at Delhi airport free?
Yes, the IGIA inter-terminal transfer bus is free for ticketed passengers. Keep your boarding pass or e-ticket ready to show at the shuttle boarding point. The shuttle runs 24/7 at intervals of roughly 15–20 minutes between T1/T2 and T3.
What is the minimum connection time I should book at Delhi airport?
For same-terminal connections: 60–75 minutes is the practical minimum on domestic. For inter-terminal connections (T1 to T3 or vice versa): 2 hours minimum on domestic, 2.5–3 hours if international is involved (immigration, customs, security again). For T2 to T3: 75–90 minutes. These are minimums — build in more buffer if you have checked baggage on a self-transfer.
What happens if I miss a connecting flight at Delhi due to the terminal change?
If both legs are on a single PNR (same booking), the airline must rebook you on the next available service at no extra charge under DGCA passenger rights. If you self-transferred on two separate bookings, you are on your own — you would need to buy a new ticket or claim on travel insurance if you purchased it. Always use a single-PNR itinerary for tight connections.