Delhi Airport Jumps to 5th Spot in Apac! How India’s Aviation Boom Changed the Rankings

Delhi airport has been ranked the 5th-busiest airport in the Asia Pacific (Apac) region in 2025, according to the latest OAG data. With 46.18 million one-way departing seats, the airport made a dramatic jump from 9th position in 2019. The strong growth reflects India’s rising domestic air travel demand and aggressive capacity expansion by leading carriers like IndiGo.

Delhi Airport Ranked 5th in Apac Busiest Airports 2025

• According to OAG, which measures airport traffic based on one-way departing seat capacity.
• Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport recorded 46.18 million seats in 2025.
• This positioned Delhi airport at 5th place among Apac busiest airports.
• In 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic, Delhi ranked 9th.
• The sharp improvement highlights how quickly India’s aviation industry has recovered and expanded post-pandemic.

OAG Data Shows Strong Seat Capacity Growth in 2025

• The OAG data indicates that Delhi airport’s seat capacity growth has been driven by both domestic and international routes.
• The ranking is based purely on scheduled airline seat supply, not passenger footfall.
• The jump from 9th in 2019 to 5th in 2025 reflects a structural shift in Asia Pacific aviation trends.
• India’s expanding middle class, affordable airfares,and improved airport infrastructure have significantly boosted demand.

Delhi Airport Overtakes Major Apac Hubs

• Suvarnabhumi Airport
• Singapore Changi Airport
• Incheon International Airport

In 2025, Delhi airport overtook several established global aviation hubs. These include,

• Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport (39.49 million seats)
• Singapore Changi Airport (42.57 million seats)
• Seoul Incheon International Airport (43.40 million seats)

In 2019, these airports were significantly busier than Delhi. The reversal in rankings signals India’s growing influence in Asia Pacific aviation.

Role of IndiGo in Delhi Airport Growth

• A major factor behind Delhi airport’s rise in Apac busiest airports list is the aggressive expansion by IndiGo.
• The airline has rapidly increased fleet size, added new routes and enhanced connectivity from Delhi.
• IndiGo’s focus on high-frequency domestic routes and expanding international operations has directly contributed to higher seat capacity.
• The airline’s low-cost model continues to stimulate demand across tier-2 and tier-3 cities, feeding traffic into Delhi airport.

Question

Q. Which aviation data platform released the Apac busiest airports ranking?

A) IATA
B) DGCA
C) OAG
D) ICAO