IGI GROWING FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH

With its unique connections, Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport is now among the top 10 airports in the world in terms of passengers, connections and transfers. AMEYA JOSHI reports

- AMEYA JOSHI

Later this month, Belarusian national carrier Belavia will launch once a week service to Delhi from Minsk - the capital of Belarus. In the middle of a war in Europe, where Belarus has also seen sanctions, aircraft with Belavia being repossessed by lessors and airspace over Europe closed for its aircraft, Delhi is an interesting choice. The flight will operate non-stop, just once a week. The long flight will be operated by the sole B737 MAX in its fleet and would be stretching to extract the last ounce of juice to reach Delhi.

Delhi has become a regional magnet and is now spreading its wings further. Apart from being a regional power with a growing economy, outreach by the government and also medical tourism brings in people from Central Asia, SAARC and other nearby countries.

The unique connections from Delhi

A passenger can fly to some exotic or unique places like Almaty, Baghdad, Basra, Ashgabat, Baku, Dushanbe or Bishkek from Delhi. Delhi continues to be the regional magnet.

Additionally, Air India moving its hub to Delhi has helped in multiple ways with there being certain flights operated by Air India which makes it unique. This has opened up monopoly flights to destinations like Vienna, Sydney and San Francisco amongst others. Air India also operates the only flight between the capital of the oldest and the largest democracies--Delhi and Washington D.C.