Air passengers arriving at Terminal 1 of the Delhi airport may soon find relief from the hassle of lugging their checked-in baggage to Terminal 3 for connecting flights, as Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) seeks approval for baggage transfer between the two terminals. Pending approval from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), this initiative aims to streamline passenger experience and reduce logistical challenges.
Furthermore, officials indicated that the possibility of facilitating airside baggage transfer from Terminal 3 to Terminal 1 for international flight passengers is under consideration. T1 and T3 of the Delhi airport are slightly away from each other and passengers travel between the terminals by road.
Delhi Airport – T1, T2, T3
At the sprawling Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), Terminal 3 accommodates international flights, while Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 cater to domestic flights. Presently, passengers arriving at Terminal 1 must transport their checked-in baggage to Terminal 3 for connecting flights.
However, once the airside transfer system for checked-in baggage is implemented, passengers traveling via connecting flights from Terminal 3 will no longer need to carry their baggage.
For passengers transitioning from international to domestic flights, logistical arrangements, including customs clearance procedures, are being devised to enable seamless baggage transfer.
DIAL to formulate Proof of Concept
A Proof of Concept (PoC) is being developed to facilitate baggage drop-off at Terminal 1 after customs clearance. Despite the slight distance between Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, which necessitates road travel for passengers, efforts to upgrade airport infrastructure are underway.
Delhi Airport’s expansion plans
The airport, with a passenger handling capacity ranging from 100 to 105 million, comprises three terminals—T1, T2, and T3. Anticipated to commence operations in June, the expanded Terminal 1 is part of an initiative to enhance airport infrastructure led by DIAL, a consortium spearheaded by the GMR Group. To facilitate seamless transit between the terminals, plans are underway to introduce an Automated People Mover (APM) or an air train system. With air passenger traffic witnessing a steady increase, airlines are augmenting their fleets and expanding their networks to cater to the growing demand.