Conversion to raise T3’s international handling capacity by around 50% with addition of 10 mn passengers annually

The Pier C at Terminal 3 (T3) of Delhi Airport will commence international operations from the first week of May, marking the operational rollout of the facility’s conversion from domestic to international use.

Earlier this week, BusinessLine had reported that the conversion of Pier C at T3 had been completed and was awaiting regulatory clearance before becoming operational.

The move is aimed at expanding international handling capacity and strengthening Delhi Airport’s hub ambitions.

On its part, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) said the repurposed Pier C will increase Delhi Airport’s international passenger handling capacity at Terminal 3 by around 50 per cent, adding nearly 10 million passengers annually.

This is expected to take T3’s international capacity to around 30–32 million passengers per annum.

As per DIAL, the conversion forms part of a broader strategy to strengthen Delhi Airport’s position as an international aviation transit hub amid rising global traffic and increasing long-haul connectivity.

Notably, Pier C, which has been part of Terminal 3 since its inception, has been converted from domestic to international operations through repurposing of existing infrastructure without new construction.

The exercise, DIAL said, was aimed at unlocking latent terminal capacity while improving passenger movement and operational resilience.

According to Videh Kumar Jaipuriar, Chief Executive Officer of DIAL, the conversion reflects the airport’s strategy of expanding capacity through existing infrastructure while preparing for future demand.

“The transformation of Pier C, from domestic to international, reflects our philosophy of building capacity with foresight—anticipating demand while keeping the passenger experience at the centre,” he said.

DIAL said the upgraded pier includes operational enhancements aimed at improving processing efficiency and reducing passenger waiting time.

These include 12 additional self-baggage drop counters, 20 emigration counters including Trusted Traveller Programme counters, five Automatic Tray Retrieval System lanes, dual-view X-BIS machines, and 16 boarding gates converted for international use.

Additionally, the facility includes 40 additional Bureau of Immigration counters in arrivals, along with new escalators and lifts.

Besides, the facility improves readiness for wide-body aircraft, including the Airbus A350, increasing wide-body stand availability for international operations by around 40 per cent.

The move aligns with fleet expansion plans of domestic and international carriers operating long-haul routes.

Published on April 24, 2026