Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) has leapt 11 positions to 28th place on aviation analyst OAG’s 2026 Global Megahubs Index, underscoring India’s growing influence in long-haul connectivity. Airport operator Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) said the hub now offers connections to 160 destinations—70 international and 90 domestic—served by 70 airlines. The new ranking is more than a vanity metric. OAG’s index measures the ratio of possible onward connections within a six-hour window, a data point airlines use when deciding where to deploy wide-body aircraft. A higher score signals that business travellers can reach more final destinations with a single stop, making Delhi an attractive transit point for corporate itineraries between Europe, the Middle East and emerging Asian markets. DIAL is doubling down on that hub strategy. Philippine Airlines will begin nonstop Delhi–Manila flights in mid-November, while EVA Air has confirmed Delhi–Taipei services from 1 December. Talks are also under way with carriers from Russia, Mongolia and several African states to plug remaining white spots on the route map. Behind the scenes, the airport’s Terminal 1 expansion and the new dual elevated taxiway—completed earlier this year—have trimmed average connection times by 15 minutes. For multinational firms basing regional staff in India, the improvements translate into faster door-to-door journeys and greater scheduling flexibility. Travel managers also note that Delhi now tops OAG’s low-cost-carrier megahub ranking, offering 11,000+ one-stop LCC connections—critical for price-sensitive project teams. Analysts expect Delhi’s rise to put competitive pressure on Gulf hubs for India-origin traffic. For corporates, a stronger home-market hub can reduce back-tracking and overnight layovers, while also supporting India’s stated ambition of becoming a global aviation hub by 2047.
Source: The Times of India
