Air India Shifting Domestic Operations at Delhi Airport: Complete Terminal Guide for Travelers

Air India will be relocating a substantial portion of its domestic flight operations at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport to the upgraded Terminal 1 (T1) and Terminal 2 (T2) beginning October 26, 2025.

This strategic shift is necessitated by the ongoing expansion work at Terminal 3 (T3) being conducted by Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), which aims to increase international passenger capacity.

According to Air India's official statement, "The terminal enlargement works will reduce domestic capacity at T3, necessitating the relocation of certain domestic operations of Air India and Air India Express, effective 26 October 2025."

Starting later this month, 60 of Air India's 180 daily domestic departures from Delhi will operate from the upgraded Terminal 2. These flights can be easily identified by their flight numbers, which begin with 'AI1XXX' (such as AI1737, AI1787).

The airline has emphasized that this clear numbering distinction will help passengers identify their terminal simply by checking their flight number.

Air India Express, the subsidiary of Air India, will transfer its domestic network operations to Terminal 1, which has recently undergone renovation and expansion. These flights are identifiable by their four-digit numbers that begin with 9 (for example, AI 9501, AI 9550).

There will be no changes for international travelers, as all Air India international flights will continue to operate from Terminal 3.

For passengers with connecting flights between T1, T2, and T3, Delhi International Airport provides a convenient shuttle service that runs every 10 minutes, ensuring smooth connectivity between all terminals.

Regarding baggage transport, passengers connecting from an international flight arriving at T3 to a domestic flight departing from T2 will need to collect their baggage at T3 arrivals, proceed through customs to the transfer point, drop their baggage, and then make their way to T2. Alternatively, passengers may carry their baggage directly to T2 and drop it at the Air India check-in counter for their next flight.

Passengers can verify their flight terminal at any time before departure by logging into the Manage My Booking section on the Air India website. Terminal information will also be clearly indicated during web check-in and printed on the boarding pass.