Is a 1 hr layover in Delhi long enough?

DEL · Indira Gandhi International · Delhi, India
It Depends

A 1 hour layover at DEL (Delhi) is tight — it may or may not be enough.

Meets the domestic-domestic MCT exactly but is too tight for anything involving T1-T3 shuttle transfer.
Concourses
3
Max Transit
60m
Avg. Security
25m
Primary Hub
Air India
Domestic → Domestic
60min
tight
Domestic → International
90min
International → Domestic
90min
International → International
75min
AD PLACEMENT — CONTEXTUAL
If your itinerary routes between T1 and T3, budget at least 90 minutes as the shuttle plus re-screening eats time fast.
Check your boarding pass carefully — same-airline connections can still switch terminals without warning, especially IndiGo domestic-to-international.
Use the T3 transfer desks immediately after landing if you're on a tight international-to-domestic connection to confirm gate and screening requirements.
Immigration queues for arriving international passengers can be long in early morning hours (midnight to 4am) due to bunched long-haul arrivals.
Keep your connecting boarding pass or transit visa documentation handy, as Delhi requires it for airside movement between zones.
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Low risk
Moderate
High risk
Tight connections are safer outside peak hours. Morning rush (6–9a), midday (11a–2p), and evening (4–8p) are highest risk.
Passengers connecting between Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 must take a free inter-terminal shuttle bus that takes 20-30 minutes depending on traffic and boarding time, followed by a fresh security check on arrival. Within Terminal 3 itself, international-to-domestic or domestic-to-international transfers involve walking through immigration/customs-adjacent corridors but no shuttle is needed, cutting transfer time significantly.
Is 1 hour enough for a layover at Indira Gandhi International (DEL)?

Meets the domestic-domestic MCT exactly but is too tight for anything involving T1-T3 shuttle transfer.

What is the minimum connection time at DEL?

Minimum connection times at Indira Gandhi International: Domestic-to-Domestic is 60 minutes, International-to-International is 75 minutes. These are the shortest layovers airlines will sell.

Can I make a 1 hour connection at DEL on an international flight?

1 hour is below the 75-minute international MCT at Indira Gandhi International. You may need to rush and could miss your connection. Passengers connecting between Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 must take a free inter-terminal shuttle bus that takes 20-30 minutes depending on traffic and boarding time, followed by a fresh security check on arrival. Within Terminal 3 itself, international-to-domestic or domestic-to-international transfers involve walking through immigration/customs-adjacent corridors but no shuttle is needed, cutting transfer time significantly.

How much time do I need for a layover at DEL?

We recommend at least 1½ hours for a comfortable connection at Indira Gandhi International. This gives you enough buffer for security (typically 25 minutes) and transit between terminals (up to 60 minutes).

What happens if I miss my connection at DEL?

If you misconnect, head to your airline's transfer desk in Terminal 3 (arrivals level) or the Air India/IndiGo help counters, as most rebooking happens on the spot rather than requiring a trip to landside ticketing.

AD PLACEMENT — BEFORE FOOTER