Is 1.5 hours enough for connecting flight in Delhi?

When making a connecting flight in Delhi Airport, you should always allow for at least 1.5 hours between the scheduled arrival time of your first flight and the scheduled departure time of your second flight. In other words, it's best to have a gap of 90 minutes between flights.



In 2026, a 1.5-hour connection at Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) in Delhi is considered extremely tight and is generally only feasible if you are on a single PNR (one ticket) with the same airline or a codeshare partner. In this scenario, your luggage is typically checked through to your final destination, and you can use the dedicated "International-to-Domestic" or "Domestic-to-International" transfer corridors within Terminal 3, which bypasses the main arrivals hall. However, if you must change terminals (e.g., from T1 or T2 to T3) or if you are traveling on separate tickets, 1.5 hours is virtually impossible. Changing terminals requires a shuttle bus or taxi, which can take 20–30 minutes, followed by a new check-in and security screening. Even within Terminal 3, long queues at security or immigration—common during peak hours—can easily consume over an hour. To avoid the stress of a missed connection, it is highly recommended to allow at least 3 hours for international transfers and at least 2 hours for domestic-to-domestic connections.

People Also Ask

For international layover flights booked on one airline, two hours is often recommended to make your connection. For international flights on different airlines, the connection time will need to be even greater as you may have to change terminals between the two flights.

MORE DETAILS

Tips: If you transit to India within 24 hours of layover at the airport, it would be better to book the connecting flight on one ticket with the flight to India. A single booking allows you to connect from one flight to the next without having to clear immigration and re-claim your luggage personally.

MORE DETAILS

What is the recommended layover time for international flights? International flights require longer connections as you will often have to go through immigration and customs upon arrival. For international layover flights booked on one airline, two hours is often recommended to make your connection.

MORE DETAILS

When making a connecting flight in Delhi Airport, you should always allow for at least 1.5 hours between the scheduled arrival time of your first flight and the scheduled departure time of your second flight. In other words, it's best to have a gap of 90 minutes between flights.

MORE DETAILS

If your itinerary was purchased as one ticket (as in: you have only one itinerary and one confirmation number), and the connection time was too short and you miss the second (or third) flight, you can rest easy, no matter what happens. The airline will simply put you onto the next available flight, free of charge.

MORE DETAILS

If a delay in your first flight is the reason you're missing your connection, don't worry too much. Usually, most airlines will rebook you on the next flight, and that too for free. Although, you might have to fly on standby depending on seat availability.

MORE DETAILS

Travel advisers say there's a lot to take into account when booking connecting flights, but a general rule of thumb is 60-90 minutes between domestic flights and at least two to three hours for international itineraries.

MORE DETAILS

You can walk from Terminal 2 to Terminal 3 at Delhi Airport, but it's a bit of a walk. It will take you around 10-15 minutes to get from T2 to T3 when walking. To make it easier, you can use the free shuttle service that connects the terminals. The shuttle runs at regular intervals and is a quick and convenient option.

MORE DETAILS

T3 is actually an international terminal and some of the domestic flights like vistara, air india and jet airways operates from here. So all you have to do is that you have go through the transfers and you will be able to collect your boarding pass for the international flight.

MORE DETAILS

You'll need to clear customs and immigration. Next, you'll recheck your luggage for the domestic flight. Finally, you'll need to go through Transportation Security Administration screening. This may include a physical inspection of your luggage and personal items with a metal detector or a full-body scan.

MORE DETAILS

Two to three hours is the minimum recommended time for an international layover, but more might be needed. Sally French is a travel rewards expert who joined NerdWallet in 2020.

MORE DETAILS

When layover flights are booked with the same airline, your baggage will be automatically transferred through to your final destination. However, if the two flights are with different airlines, you may have to claim and re-check your baggage during your layover.

MORE DETAILS