Indira Gandhi International Airport is the primary international airport of the National Capital Region of Delhi, India, situated in Palam, 15 km (9.3 mi) south-west of the New Delhi railway station and 16 km (9.9 mi) from New Delhi city centre. Named after Indira Gandhi, a former Prime Minister of India, it is the busiest airport in India.With the commencement of operations at the new Terminal 3, it became India's and South Asia's largest aviation hub, with a current capacity of handling more than 46 million passengers. IGIA along with Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, together handle more than half of the aircraft movements in South Asia.The airport's operator, Delhi International Airport Private Limited (DIAL), is looking to make the airport the next international transit hub. Spread over an area of 6,300 acres (2,500 ha) of land, Delhi airport serves as the primary civilian aviation hub for the National Capital Region of India. It was previously operated by the Indian Air Force before its management was transferred to the Airports Authority of India.In May 2006, the management of the airport was passed over to Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), a consortium led by the GMR Group. In 2011–12, the airport handled 35.88 million passengers and the planned expansion program will increase its capacity to handle 100 million passengers by 2030. The new Terminal 3 building has had the capacity to handle an additional 34 million passengers annually since the start of the 2010 Commonwealth Games.Terminal 3 is the world's 8th largest passenger terminal.In September 2008, the airport inaugurated a 4,430 m (14,530 ft) runway. In 2010, Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) was conferred the fourth best airport award in the world in the 15–25 million category, and Best Improved Airport in the Asia-Pacific Region by Airports Council International.In years 2012,2013 and 2014, the IGIA was ranked the second-best airport in the world in the 25–40 million passengers category, again by Airports Council International.Also in 2011 (the last year that full statistics from ACI are available), the airport was the 34th busiest in the world with 34,729,467 passengers handled, registering a 17.8% growth in traffic over the previous year.The airport uses an advanced system called Airport Collaborative Decision Making (A-CDM) to help keep takeoffs and landings timely and predictable. Designed by HOK working in consultation with Mott MacDonald,the new Terminal 3 is a two-tier building spread over an area of 20 acres (8.1 ha), with the bottom floor being the arrivals area, and the top being a departures area. This terminal has 168 check-in counters, 78 aerobridges at 48 contact stands, 54 parking bays, 95 immigration counters, 15 X-ray screening areas, for less waiting times, duty-free shops, and other features.Over 90% of passengers will use this terminal when completed. This new terminal had been completed in time for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, which were held in Delhi, and will be connected to Delhi by an eight-lane motorway (National Highway 8), and the Delhi Metro. The terminal was officially inaugurated on 3 July 2010, and there were nine flights to test the operational readiness of the new terminal and its ground handling capabilities. All international airlines shifted their operations to the new terminal in late July 2010, and all full service domestic carriers mid November onwards. The arrival area is equipped with 14 baggage carousels. Opened in 2010, Terminal 3, a state-of-the-art and integrated future terminal, is the 24th largest building in the worldand 8th largest passenger terminal. It occupies an area of 502,000 m2 (5,400,000 sq ft), with a capacity to handle 34 million passengers annually.T3 has India's first automated parking management and guidance system in a multi level car park, which comprises 7 levels and a capacity of 4,300 carsTerminal 3 will form the first phase of the airport expansion in which a 'U' shaped building will be developed in a modular manner. In 2010, all international and full service domestic carriers started operating from Terminal 3, while Terminal 1 is dedicated to low cost operations. In subsequent stages, the low cost carriers will also move to the new terminal complex. The much awaited go ahead for the domestic airlines to start operations from the new T3 terminal has been given. After passing many hurdles Air India which is also the national carrier started its domestic operations from the new T3 terminal from 11 November 2010. Two other airlines, Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines, moved their domestic operations to the new terminal on 14 November 2010. Terminal 1D is now used exclusively by low cost carrier airlines including GoAir.

• published: 16 Nov 2014
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