Starting October, passengers of GoAir, IndiGo and SpiceJet may need to check-in at and board their flights from Terminal 2 (T2) of Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. The decision by the Ministry of Civil Aviation to move them from Terminal 1 (T1) is so they can start work on its expansion.

T1 is currently handling 20 per cent more than its full capacity of 20 million passengers per annum. Terminal 3 (T3) of the airport operates international flights, and is also running beyond its full capacity.

In June, the Ministry of Civil Aviation had asked the airlines to “arrive at a mutually acceptable situation in a month, by July 15, 2017”, lest it make the decision for them.

Since then, the ministry has asked the low cost airlines to move a third of their operations to T2 by October. This move will reduce the load on T1, and make room to start work on its expansion, as scheduled. Currently, T2 is not being used to its full potential, laying almost vacant, serving only Haj flights.

This decision of splitting flights of an airline between two terminals — T1 and T2 — could create confusion for flyers. As of now, there is no clarity on which flights will operate from T2 and which ones will continue to operate from T1. Further, the ministry has proposed that any two of the three mentioned airlines, if not all, could move part of their operations to T2 in October.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation will announce its final course of action shortly.

civilaviation.gov.in; newdelhiairport.in