IGIA expands domestic routes

Delhi International Airport has expanded its domestic network to 90 destinations with the launch of direct scheduled flights to Daman, operated by Alliance Air. The launch makes it the only airport in India to offer direct connectivity to 32 of the country’s 36 States and Union Territories, covering 27 States and five Union Territories, DIAL CEO Pradeep Panicker announced on Tuesday.

The airport currently handles more than 1,050 daily domestic flight movements and over five million domestic passengers every month, including approximately one million domestic-to-domestic transfer passengers. The 90-destination count is the highest among all airports in India and excludes seasonal winter destinations of Khajuraho and Jaisalmer, which are included in the broader network count.

Panicker said the launch of the Daman route is a significant milestone. “Reaching 90 domestic destinations and becoming the only airport in the country to provide direct connectivity to 32 of India’s 36 States and Union Territories reflects our continued commitment to enhancing accessibility, supporting regional economic growth and providing passengers with a wider range of travel options,” he said.

The addition of Daman gives the airport direct connectivity to the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. The route improves access for tourists drawn to Daman’s beaches and Portuguese heritage and for business travellers visiting one of western India’s established manufacturing centres, known for pharmaceuticals, chemicals, plastics, textiles, and engineering industries.

As a transfer hub, Delhi Airport’s connectivity means passengers from across India and overseas can access Daman through onward connections at Delhi rather than requiring a separate hub.

Among Indian states, Maharashtra is the best connected from Delhi with direct flights to seven destinations, followed by Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh each with six destinations. Scheduled domestic services from Delhi are currently operated by Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo, Akasa Air, SpiceJet, and Alliance Air.

The reach of 32 of 36 States and Union Territories is significant in context. India has 36 administrative units, including States and Union Territories. Four remain without direct Delhi connectivity, but the coverage of 32 represents a near-comprehensive domestic network from a single hub. For a country of India’s geographic scale, where surface connectivity between distant regions can take days, the ability to reach 32 states and union territories directly from one airport represents a substantial integration of the national aviation map.

The 90-destination milestone also reflects the scale of India’s domestic aviation growth over the past decade. When DIAL first began operations, the domestic network was considerably smaller. The combination of low-cost carrier expansion, Government regional connectivity schemes, and rising middle-class demand for air travel has driven consistent network growth that has now reached a point where Delhi effectively connects to virtually every Indian region with significant population or economic activity.

The four states and union territories not yet directly connected from Delhi represent either low-demand corridors or locations where surface connectivity remains the primary mode, though the UDAN regional connectivity scheme continues to push the frontier of viable air routes in India.