Airport Report - India's Triple Crown

The subcontinents economic boom has pushed its airports to launch radical changes.

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Not so long ago, India was considered a land of elephants and snake-charmers. Nowadays, it’s known as the world’s biggest democracy and home to major high tech industries. With its new status and increased influx of visitors, there’s demand for the country’s airports to step up their infrastructure offerings – a far cry from the shabby and time-worn facilities of yesteryear. Today these air gateways are transforming into futuristic transport hubs.

The upgraded terminals in Delhi and Hyderabad’s greenfield airport are proof that this renewal is well underway. And even the long-delayed Nevi Mumbai international airport is inching its way to completion. Watch this space as an old order gives way to progress and efficiency.

DELHI

Indira Gandhi International Airport

With a projected 40-million-plus passengers this year, Indira Gandhi International is the busiest airport in India, and the subcontinent’s largest aviation hub. The newest of IGIA’s terminal buildings is the integrated international Terminal 3 which was opened in 2010. Together with domestic Terminal 1D, which reopened the year prior, Indira Gandhi has enough room to handle 62 million passengers per year.

T3’s stylish architecture features sweeping vistas of steel and glass flooded with natural light, with 168 check-in counters to welcome passengers. The scale and capacity of the 5.4-million-squarefoot, two level terminal offers passengers access to huge retail areas with duty free shopping and specialty/luxury shops, including a special bazaar for exclusive Indian handicrafts, tea and spices. There are food courts, fine-dining restaurants and grab-and-go eateries, as well as spas and express massage facilities, a gaming zone and a prayer room.