Delhi IGI Airport Terminal Guide 2026: T1, T2, T3 — Which Airline, Where to Eat, Lounges
By Kabir Malhotra (Kabir Malhotra writes about how Indian travel buyers actually pay — UPI vs credit card vs forex card surcharges, reward-point math on the top travel credit cards, RBI tokenisation, EMI-on-flights and the small fees that compound across a year of bookings.) · Published · 14 min read
Everything an Indian flyer needs to navigate Delhi IGI in 2026 — which airlines park at T1, T2 and T3, real lounge prices, eateries that are actually open at 3 a.m. and how to time the shuttle without missing a connection.
The three-terminal layout in plain English
Indira Gandhi International Airport (IATA code DEL) is India's busiest aviation hub and handles roughly 73 to 78 million passengers a year across three operational terminals. The first question every traveller asks is the right one: which terminal is my flight at? Get this wrong and you can lose two hours, because IGI's terminals sit on opposite sides of the runway complex and the road journey between T1 and T3 in Delhi traffic can stretch beyond 40 minutes.
Here is the simple split for 2026. Terminal 1 (T1) handles domestic low-cost — primarily IndiGo, SpiceJet and Akasa Air domestic routes. Terminal 2 (T2) is the overflow terminal, currently used for IndiGo domestic capacity during peak slots and as a swing terminal during T1 expansion work. Terminal 3 (T3) is the big one — it handles all international departures and arrivals (every foreign carrier, plus Air India and IndiGo international), and it also handles legacy full-service domestic from Air India (which now includes the Vistara network post-merger). If your boarding pass shows an Air India domestic flight, you depart from T3, not T1.
The boarding-pass header is the ground truth. Always check the terminal field on your e-ticket or the DigiYatra app the night before. Airlines also send terminal information via SMS roughly 24 hours out, but operational swaps do happen — particularly between T1 and T2 for IndiGo.
Terminal 1 — IndiGo, SpiceJet, Akasa low-cost domestic
T1 reopened in expanded form in 2024 after a long upgrade cycle and now operates as a fully integrated domestic terminal with a unified departures and arrivals concourse. The check-in hall has been redesigned with substantially more self-bag-drop counters, e-boarding gates and a cleaner forecourt. Capacity sits around 40 million passengers a year post-upgrade.
Airlines at T1: IndiGo domestic (most narrow-body domestic flights, especially short-haul), SpiceJet domestic, and Akasa Air domestic. Air India Express, after its merger with AIX Connect, has consolidated most of its Delhi domestic operations at T1 as well, though a small number of routes still run from T3.
Food at T1 is the usual airport-mall mix: Cafe Coffee Day, Starbucks, Costa, Subway, KFC, Haldiram's, and a Punjab Grill express counter that does a respectable dal makhani. The 24x7 outlets you can rely on for a red-eye are the Costa near the security check and the Haldiram's in the airside food court. Lounge options at T1 are limited to the Plaza Premium Lounge, which costs roughly 1,800 to 2,200 rupees for a two-hour walk-in pass, or free with most premium credit card lounge programmes such as DreamFolks, Priority Pass, or via complimentary access bundled with cards like the HDFC Infinia, Axis Magnus, ICICI Emeralde or American Express Platinum.
Terminal 2 — the IndiGo overflow you may not have heard of
T2 is the smallest and oldest of the three operational concourses and the one that confuses first-time IGI users the most. It exists primarily as overflow capacity for IndiGo and during the long T1 expansion programme it absorbed a substantial chunk of IndiGo's Delhi domestic departures.
In 2026, T2 still handles a meaningful slice of IndiGo's morning-bank Delhi domestic departures — typically Delhi to Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Goa, Pune and Ahmedabad rotations during the 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. window. The terminal is functional but spare. Eateries are a basic CCD, a Subway, a Travel Food Services Indian counter and a couple of grab-and-go kiosks. There is a small Plaza Premium Lounge, again accessible via DreamFolks and Priority Pass.
T2 is geographically right next to T1 — the two share the same forecourt complex on the southern side of IGI. If your Uber driver drops you at T1 by mistake when you're flying from T2 (or vice versa), it is a two-minute walk between the entrances, not a shuttle journey. Only the T1-to-T3 direction needs the full inter-terminal shuttle.
Terminal 3 — every international plus Air India domestic
T3 is one of the largest terminals in the world by floor area, opened in 2010 for the Commonwealth Games and substantially refreshed in the 2023-2025 cycle. It handles every single international departure from Delhi — that is every foreign carrier (Emirates, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, British Airways, Air France, KLM, United, American, Cathay Pacific, Etihad, Saudia, Turkish, Thai, the lot), plus Air India international, plus IndiGo international long-haul. T3 also handles all Air India domestic (including the merged Vistara network) and a handful of IndiGo domestic premium routes.
The terminal is a single integrated building with separate departures (upper) and arrivals (lower) levels. Domestic and international check-in zones are clearly signposted by row letter — domestic is at the eastern end (rows A-F), international is at the western end (rows G-T). Self-baggage drop is now widely deployed for Air India, IndiGo and most foreign carriers, which can take 10 to 15 minutes off your check-in time if you have already done online check-in.
Walking distances inside T3 are substantial. From the curbside drop to the farthest international gate can be a 12 to 15 minute walk if you do not use the moving walkways. Budget at least 90 minutes for international departures even with no checked bag, and 2 hours 30 minutes if you have a bag to drop and any visa paperwork to clear.
T3 lounges — full breakdown with prices and access
T3 has the deepest lounge inventory of any Indian airport. Here is the practical map. Encalm Privé is the flagship pay-per-use lounge in the international departures airside, with both a standard lounge and a more premium privé section that includes shower suites and a la carte dining. Walk-in pricing is roughly 3,000 to 3,500 rupees for the standard lounge and 5,500 to 6,500 rupees for the privé tier. Most Indian premium credit cards covering DreamFolks access cover the standard Encalm lounge.
ITC Maurya Air Lounge is operated by ITC Hotels and located in the international airside — premium food (proper ITC F&B, including kebabs and biryani) and a quieter atmosphere. Plaza Premium Lounge has multiple T3 locations including a domestic airside lounge — solid all-rounder, widely accessible via Priority Pass and DreamFolks. Air India Maharaja Lounge is the contract lounge for Air India business and first class passengers and Star Alliance Gold members departing on Air India metal, located in the international airside, recently refurbished. American Express Centurion Lounge T3 is the India flagship for Centurion and Platinum cardholders — limited access, restricted to American Express Platinum Card and Centurion Card members and one guest. KrisFlyer SilverKris Lounge is the Singapore Airlines contract lounge for SQ and Star Alliance business passengers. Emirates Lounge serves Emirates first and business class passengers and Skywards Platinum and Gold tier holders.
If you are travelling economy with no lounge entitlement, the most reliable cash-pay option is Encalm Privé or Plaza Premium. If your credit card includes DreamFolks visits, check whether you have international or only domestic visits left for the calendar quarter — most cards now split the two.
Eateries, forex and the 3 a.m. test
For 24-hour food in T3 airside, the reliable players are Cafe Coffee Day (multiple locations), Starbucks (international airside near Gate 16-18), KFC, Subway, Haldiram's, and a 24x7 thali counter operated by Travel Food Services in the international concourse. For a proper sit-down Indian meal try Curry Kitchen or Dilli Streat — both serve actual North Indian thalis with chapati and dal, not airport-grade reheated trays. The Punjab Grill express in domestic airside is a step up from the chain quality.
For forex, DEL T3 has multiple counters operated by Thomas Cook, Centrum Forex, BookMyForex and a couple of bank desks in both international departures and arrivals. The honest answer on rates is — airport forex is always 2 to 4 percent worse than what you would get from BookMyForex or Wise booked online and collected from a city branch a day prior. Use the airport counters only for emergencies. If you must, the BookMyForex desk usually quotes slightly tighter spreads than the legacy bank counters.
For pre-paid SIMs, the Airtel and Jio counters in international arrivals are stocked for incoming international travellers. If you are a resident with a working SIM, ignore them.
Inter-terminal shuttle, taxis and Uber pickup zones
The DIAL inter-terminal shuttle bus is free for passengers with a valid boarding pass or ticket and runs roughly every 20 minutes between T1, T2 and T3, with a journey time of 15 to 25 minutes depending on traffic on the airport road network. The shuttle stops are clearly marked outside the arrivals level of each terminal. Always allow at least 90 minutes between connecting flights if your itinerary involves a T1-to-T3 or T3-to-T1 terminal change, and never book separate tickets across terminals without that buffer.
Pre-paid taxi counters at both T1 and T3 are operated by Delhi Police and Meru. Pricing is regulated — expect roughly 500 to 700 rupees to Connaught Place, 800 to 1,100 rupees to South Delhi (Saket, Greater Kailash), and 350 to 500 rupees to Aerocity. Uber, Ola and Rapido all operate from designated pickup zones — at T3 the Uber pickup is in the multi-level parking complex (signposted as 'App Cab Pickup'), and surge pricing during early morning international arrival banks can push fares 1.5 to 2 times the pre-paid taxi rate. For a fixed-price comfortable ride, the pre-paid counter often wins at peak hours.
Aerocity hotels for layovers
Aerocity is a hotel district built specifically for IGI layovers, sitting roughly 5 to 10 minutes by road from T3 and 15 to 20 minutes from T1/T2. The big-brand inventory includes JW Marriott New Delhi Aerocity, Pullman New Delhi Aerocity, Holiday Inn New Delhi International Airport, Novotel New Delhi Aerocity, Andaz Delhi, ibis New Delhi Aerocity, Lemon Tree Premier and Roseate House. Rates in 2026 typically run from 6,000 to 9,000 rupees a night for the mid-tier brands (Holiday Inn, ibis, Lemon Tree) and 12,000 to 22,000 rupees for the premium properties.
Most Aerocity hotels offer free airport shuttles on a 30 to 60 minute frequency, though Uber-ing the 2 km journey is faster if you are in a hurry. For very short layovers (4 to 8 hours), consider the SleepPod cabins at T3 international airside, operated inside the terminal — book through the airport's official website. They cost roughly 1,200 to 2,400 rupees for a 4 to 6 hour slot and you don't have to clear immigration.
Security wait times and the right arrival window
Practical timing for IGI in 2026 — security wait times have improved meaningfully since CISF deployed additional lanes and DigiYatra adoption crossed 60 percent of domestic flyers. At T3 domestic, security clearance is typically 8 to 15 minutes outside peak. At T3 international, 12 to 20 minutes is normal. At T1, the 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. domestic bank can push security waits to 25 to 35 minutes — arrive accordingly.
Use DigiYatra if you have not yet — it lets you skip the entry gate ID check and the boarding gate ID check, saving 10 to 20 minutes across both touchpoints. Register through the official DigiYatra app with Aadhaar before your first flight.
Recommended arrival windows: domestic with carry-on only, 75 minutes before departure. Domestic with checked bag, 90 minutes. International with carry-on only, 2 hours. International with checked bag and any complex paperwork (visa, transit document), 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours.
Frequently asked questions
Which terminal does IndiGo use in Delhi?
IndiGo domestic flights operate from T1 and T2 (T2 is overflow). IndiGo international flights operate from T3. Always check your boarding pass — the terminal letter is printed clearly.
Is the inter-terminal shuttle at IGI free?
Yes, the DIAL inter-terminal shuttle is free with a valid boarding pass or e-ticket. It runs every 20 minutes between T1, T2 and T3 and takes 15 to 25 minutes depending on traffic.
Which lounge at Delhi T3 is best for an Indian credit card holder?
If your card includes DreamFolks visits, Encalm standard or Plaza Premium are the most reliable. American Express Platinum holders can access the Centurion Lounge T3. Star Alliance Gold on Air India metal gets the Maharaja Lounge.
How early should I reach Delhi T3 for an international flight?
Two hours before departure if you only have carry-on, 2 hours 30 minutes if you have a checked bag and any visa paperwork. Add 30 minutes if you are flying during the 1 a.m. to 4 a.m. departure bank when most long-haul international flights leave.
What is the taxi fare from IGI T3 to Connaught Place?
Pre-paid Delhi Police taxi is roughly 500 to 700 rupees to Connaught Place. Uber and Ola fares are similar off-peak but can surge to 800 to 1,100 rupees during early morning international arrivals.
Are Aerocity hotels a good idea for a 6-hour layover?
Yes if your layover is 8 hours or more, because immigration and the 5 to 10 minute transfer eat into your time. For shorter layovers, use SleepPod airside cabins inside T3 international, which avoids clearing immigration.