International airlines first at Delhi‘s T3

The new Delhi International Airport Terminal 3 will become operational for overseas airlines on Wednesday.

The new terminal replaces T2, which will close. T1 will remain for domestic services.

Kingfisher Airlines, which will join the oneworld alliance in 2011, has opened its new executive lounge for member airlines of the alliance.

Indian Airlines is not transferring to T3 until a month after the international carriers to give the new terminal a chance to settle down.

The new terminal has 78 gates, 97 automated walkways, 95 immigration counters, 20,000sqm of retail space and parking for 4,300 cars. The facility will boost the airport’s capacity to 60 million passengers a year.

“For the first time an Indian airport will rank alongside Changi, Hong Kong and Dubai,” said Binit Somaia, director for South Asia at the Sydney-based Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation.

“That is a big step forward.”