India’s ambition to transform Delhi and Mumbai into global mega hubs remains a challenging goal, with both airports still far from being among the world’s most connected international airports. However, significant progress has been made on another front: Delhi and Mumbai are emerging as key international hubs for low-cost carriers (LCCs), where airports in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region already lead the way.
According to data from global travel provider OAG, Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport now ranks 24th among the world’s top 50 mega hubs for the period from September 2023 to August 2024, moving up one spot compared to last year. On the other hand, Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, constrained by capacity issues, has dropped from 33rd to 44th in the same period. These rankings are determined by the ratio of international connections to the number of destinations served, as well as the frequency of flights on each route, both critical metrics in building a global mega hub.
At both Delhi and Mumbai airports, IndiGo, India’s leading low-cost airline, plays a dominant role in their connectivity. In Delhi, IndiGo accounts for 31% of the 21,781 international connections, serving over 156 destinations. In Mumbai, IndiGo’s share is even larger, controlling 41% of the 12,849 international connections, spanning 127 destinations. Despite IndiGo’s prominence, both airports lag behind leading global mega hubs like London’s Heathrow, which tops the list with British Airways controlling 50% of its 61,356 international connections to 227 destinations.
Kuala Lumpur, propelled by AirAsia, has surged to the second spot globally, following London, and outperforming Delhi. Kuala Lumpur saw 33,411 international connections to 137 destinations in 2024, driven by AirAsia’s dominance. While Delhi has made gains, it still trails behind other major hubs in the region like Bangkok, Singapore, Manila, Jakarta, and Bogota.
Interestingly, OAG’s data shows a growing shift towards Asia in global mega hub rankings, with eight of the top 20 hubs now located in the APAC region, reflecting the region’s growing importance in global aviation. Among low-cost carrier mega hubs, Delhi has climbed to fifth place in the world, trailing only Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Incheon, and Singapore, thanks to IndiGo’s aggressive expansion. This represents an improvement from its previous position last year.
Mumbai, however, remains steady in 11th place, with IndiGo continuing to drive its international growth. The APAC region continues to dominate the LCC mega hub market, with 64% of the top 25 LCC hubs located there. This includes eight airports in Southeast Asia, five in Northeast Asia, two in South Asia (Delhi and Mumbai), and one in the Southwest Pacific (Sydney).
India’s focus on becoming a leading player in the LCC space reflects the shifting dynamics of global aviation. While transforming Delhi and Mumbai into global mega hubs is still a distant goal, the growing role of low-cost carriers has allowed both airports to make meaningful progress on the international stage, positioning them as key players in a rapidly evolving aviation landscape.