Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL/VIDP), obviously named after Indira Gandhi, is currently the busiest in India in terms of passenger traffic, and has been since 2009. Many aviation enthusiasts consider Mumbai the place to go, but the variety of traffic using this airport should give any visitor a chance to see almost all of India’s lo-co airlines, including the occasional Air India Express. Its current record stands at handling 82 flights in an hour and roughly 65 million passenger a year.
Almost all the world’s major carriers operate into Delhi, but many do so in the hours of darkness, although the hours of daylight will provide an excellent selection of airlines and types – especially lots of the regional/domestic exotics. However, the weather is often smoggy and not perfectly clear.

You can photograph planes taking off from the Indian Air Force museum. The angle of view very narrow, and the time frame is small.  The museum will start to move to an other location 2025. They started to disassemble the planes outside.

Last Update: 2022

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
09/27	2813 m – Asphalt
10/28	3810 m – Asphalt
11/29	4430 m – Asphalt
Terminals
T1	SpiceJet and IndiGo.
T2	IndiGo, and GoAir
T3	Air India, Vistara, Spicejet and intercontinental guests.
Spotting Information
Ladder	Absolutely not recommendable and not needed at all!
Car/Public Transport	Be extremely careful on the roads as it can be very uncommon, stressy and most importantly dangerous!
Drinks/Food	Barring spot 1 and 4, drinks and food can be a problem. One should always carry a bottle of water as it can get extremely hot during the day. Unlike before, no food carts or vendors are around for food. Spot 1 may have food shops nearby in the mall, and spot 4 has plenty of shops in the terminal.
Hotels	Accommodation around the airport varies. The more modern European style hotels are located in Aero City (built for the Commonwealth Games of 2010), which does have an Ibis (which in itself is not cheap), but also a lot more expensive hotels. None have rooms overlooking are airport itself, and security here is tight. Even to get into a hotel your luggage is X-rayed and you must pass through a body scanner. However, the Andaz Hotel Delhi by Hyatt offers rooms overlooking the arrival for Runway 28 and Departure for Runway 10. The view out of the rooms looks like THIS.
Season	Unfortunately, Delhi, for most of the year, is blanketed by Smog and Haze. The afternoons may be clear, but lead to heat haze being a big problem. The early mornings bring in haze and fog. Visibility is an issue about 90% of the time. Most pictures may present you with just a white sky.
Security	New Delhi is the capital of India. As a result, IGI is an extremely sensitive airport, and all precautions need to be taken when spotting here. Unlike Mumbai, stopping at any of the spots for a long time will attract police or security attention, and in certain cases, an extensive background check. Scenarios have taken place where locals, as well as foreign nationals have been stopped, questioned, and in worst case, taken in for questioning by the authorities. Please spot at your own risk. It is advisable NOT to be at any spot for more than 2-3 arrivals/departures (except the terminal). New Delhi is also shared with the Indian Air Force, and so multiple Air Force traffic also arrives at the runways. These traffic should not be clicked as it is extremely risky and may attract unnecessary problems. The airport is surrounded by concrete walls and no attempt should be made to look beyond them or climb above them. Always carry a valid ID proof with you, and spot at your own risk.
Runway Usage
General Info	LCC using the more northerly runways, in the south you should be able to enjoy a never ending procession of various airlines and aircraft ranging from ATRs to 747s.
09/27	Mostly IndiGo and GoAir departures/arrivals.
10/28	Mostly IndiGo and GoAir as well as foreigners/intercontinental passenger and most cargo arrivals.
11/29	Mostly Air India, Vistara and heavy arrivals as well as departures

	Spot #1 – Dwarka Sector 21 Mall – 11 Arrivals
WHERE	This spot is located directly in front of the mall on the parking lot, located next to Dwarka Sector 21 train station. Thus you can reach this spot by public transport as well.
WHAT	Arrivals onto runway 11.
TIME	Useable from late morning till the evening.
MISC.	The mall with shops is just next to you as well as a police office, so rather keep a low profile.
FOCAL LENGTH	Should be 50-200mm

Photos taken here looks like THIS.

	Spot #2 – UER II Roadside – 29 Arrivals/11 Departures
WHERE	The spot can be found on the perimeter road marked as UER II (Urban Extension Road 2) right at the intersection into the Delhi-Gurgaon Highway. Just quickly pull over to the roadside here right before the junction and take your shots from the car. Aircraft on approach to runway 29 are captured on camera.
WHAT	Here you can get shots of traffic arriving onto runway 29. You will get IndiGo, Vistara, AirAsia, Spicejet and even Air India arrivals at this spot, along with some international traffic. Occasionally, you may even get Alliance Air ATR’s arriving here.
TIME	The spot is best used in the afternoon, as the sun is to the south. However, heat haze along with humid weather can be a challenge.
MISC.	Keep a low profile, only click 1/2 airplanes and then leave again. Please note that stopping is very hard and risky here, take good care! In addition one needs to be careful with police and highway agencies. Stopping will cause disruption to traffic and attention towards you.
FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm

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	Spot #3 – Expressway roadside – 28 Arrivals
WHERE	Coming on “Aerocity upas” westbound, take the exit/road on the left, which should leave you to a smaller road than the big expressway running west/parallel of it. Once there, just pull over quickly to the side of the road, and click from your car – hard to describe, spot marked exactly on our map.
WHAT	Here you can get shots of traffic arriving onto Runway 28, including some internationals, and cargo, in addition to the standard domestic traffic.
TIME	The sun is to the south from late morning to early evening. However, stopping here for long is not recommended.
MISC.	Keep a low profile, only click 1/2 airplanes and then leave again! Please note that stopping is very hard and risky here, take good care! In addition one needs to be careful with police and highway agencies – there is a huge police building just across the expressway. Additionally, you are right next to the airport perimeter wall, and so it is risky. To add to it, occasionally a tow truck may quickly come, and jam your car to tow it, since stopping here is not allowed.
FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm

Photos taken here looks like THIS.

	Spot #4 – Terminal 3 – Apron + Taxiways
WHERE	This spot is located inside Terminal 3 after the security check along the window fronts surrounding the boarding gates.
WHAT	Most aircraft taxiing to/from Runway 29/11 pass by here. Many Air India, and some international traffic.
TIME	Depends on where exactly you stand and look at, but should be best in the morning/evening hours in summer.
MISC.	Everything you need is around you in the terminal. Keep in mind that you are airside and need a valid boarding pass in order to get here. Haze by the heat or APUs as well as dirty windows can be an issue. Additionally, the window may have a tint.
FOCAL LENGTH	Should be 20-300mm

View here looks like THIS.

	Spot #5 – Shiv Murti it is Hindu Temple – 29 arrivals
WHERE	The safest place for spotting is the Shiv Murti it is Hindu Temple and park, which comes just before spot #2. It opens at 9 am and closes around 5pm (IST). It is a tourist spot and entrance is free of charge. Parking is also available and the walls of the parking area makes it safer instead of parking on roadside, which attracts more attention. Once inside find your preferred position within the park.
WHAT	The park area it gives perfect view of aircraft approaching runway 29. Angle is worser than at spot 2 but the spot is much safer!
TIME	The spot is best used in the afternoon, as the sun is to the south.
MISC.	There are trees spending shadow.
FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm

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