In a major operational overhaul, Air India and its budget arm Air India Express will relocate select domestic flights to different terminals at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport from October 26, 2025. The transition aims to ensure smoother operations amid the ongoing expansion work at Terminal 3 (T3).

As per the airline’s advisory, around 60 of Air India’s 180 daily domestic departures will now take off from Terminal 2 (T2). These flights can be easily identified by their new four-digit flight numbers beginning with ‘1’ (e.g., AI1737, AI1787). The remaining domestic flights will continue to operate from T3, while all international flights will also remain stationed there.

Meanwhile, Air India Express is set to move all its domestic operations to Terminal 1 (T1). Its flights will feature four-digit codes starting with ‘9’ (for example, AI9501, AI9550).

How to Check Your Terminal

Travellers have been urged to verify their terminal and flight details before departure. This information will appear during web check-in, on boarding passes, and can also be accessed through the Air India app, website, or 24x7 helpline. Passengers who booked tickets prior to the change will receive automatic notifications regarding terminal updates via their registered contact details.

Transfers Between Terminals

Since Air India and Air India Express will now operate from three different terminals (T1, T2, T3), the Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) will introduce free shuttle services every 10 minutes to help passengers transit between terminals.

Those with reduced mobility can request buggy rides between T2 and T3. For passengers with through-checked baggage, airlines will transfer bags internally, avoiding the need for re-check-in. Others will need to collect and re-deposit luggage at the connecting terminal.

Passengers can also walk between T2 and T3 — a journey of roughly 10–15 minutes — though T1 remains farther and best accessed via the shuttle.

For international-to-domestic transfers, customs clearance remains mandatory before moving to a domestic terminal, depending on ticket type.

What Passengers Should Know

Air India clarified that the reshuffle is a temporary measure aimed at reducing congestion at T3 while the terminal undergoes expansion.

“No additional steps are required from travellers except reconfirming their terminal before arrival at the airport,” the airline said. Authorities also recommended allowing extra travel time, especially for those catching connecting flights, to ensure a stress-free journey.

The move is expected to affect thousands of daily passengers, making terminal awareness crucial in the coming months.