In a significant departure from its long-standing growth trajectory, Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) recorded virtually no increase in passenger numbers for the calendar year 2025. This marks the first instance of such stagnation this millennium, excluding the anomalous periods of the Covid-19 pandemic and the 2008 economic downturn.
A Flat Year for India's Busiest Airport
Official data reveals that IGIA handled approximately 7.8 crore (78 million) passengers in CY 2025. This figure is almost identical to the footfall recorded in CY 2024. Both years, however, represented an 8.3% increase compared to the 7.2 crore passengers handled in 2023. The airport's failure to maintain its typical compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8% has been attributed to a confluence of disruptive events throughout the year.
Key Factors Behind the Stagnation
Several critical issues converged to halt IGIA's growth. A primary factor was the temporary shutdown of the airport's main runway for essential repairs, which lasted for several months. Furthermore, Operation Sindoor in May 2025 led to the closure of 32 airports across north and central India for several days, severely disrupting air travel networks.
The continued closure of Pakistani airspace for Indian carriers also had a pronounced impact, affecting key western routes, many of which originate or terminate in Delhi. Additionally, two major airlines based at IGIA faced operational crises. The aftermath of the Air India AI 171 crash prompted the carrier to reduce its flight schedule, while IndiGo experienced a major schedule collapse in December 2025.
Mumbai Airport Bucks the National Trend
In contrast to Delhi's experience, Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) achieved a record high in passenger traffic for 2025. Less affected by the Operation Sindoor closures and the Pakistan airspace issue, CSMIA handled 5.6 crore passengers, which is 1.3% more than its 2024 numbers and 7.6% higher than the 2023 figures.
National Traffic and Future Outlook for IGIA
On a national level, India's air passenger traffic continued to grow. DGCA data for January to November 2025 shows 15.3 crore domestic flyers, a 4.8% rise from the same period in 2024. International travel also saw a 7.5% increase, with 5.7 crore travellers between January and September 2025.
Analysts note that IGIA's location in north India and its status as the main hub for Air India and IndiGo made it particularly vulnerable to the year's disruptions. Its growth may remain subdued in the short term, especially with the potential opening of the Noida International Airport, which could draw away domestic traffic.
Despite having an annual capacity of over 10.5 crore passengers, IGIA has yet to cross the 8-crore mark. Airlines are now urging the Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) to utilize this period of slower growth to address persistent passenger pain points. A long-pending plan for an air train connecting terminals remains unrealized. DIAL's current focus is on implementing airside transfers for international-domestic connections between Terminal 3 and Terminals 1/2. However, domestic passengers will continue to face the inconvenience of a 9-kilometer road journey between T1 and T3/2 until a permanent automated people mover system is established.
