From 6 February, families departing domestically from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) can skip the standard crush of queues, thanks to a new passenger-centric initiative branded ‘Family@DEL’. Operated by Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), the project introduces dedicated kerbside entry gates, exclusive family check-in islands, priority security lanes and buggy transfers to boarding gates at Terminals 1, 2 and 3—all at no extra charge.
The concept targets travellers accompanied by infants, elderly relatives or persons with reduced mobility (PRMs), groups that typically require more time and personalised assistance. In addition to fast-track channels, the airport has set up complimentary baby-stroller banks, private nursing rooms, PRM-friendly washrooms and child-friendly seating zones in food courts. More than 250 ‘Family Assistance Buddies’, trained in soft skills and emergency procedures, have been deployed to escort passengers through each stage of the journey.
Although the service currently covers only domestic departures, DIAL confirmed to this newsletter that it is studying an expansion to international piers by mid-2026, subject to security audits. If adopted for outbound flights, the model could become a template for other Indian metros eager to differentiate passenger experience without hefty capex.
![Delhi Airport unveils ‘Family@DEL’ lanes and check-in counters across all terminals]()
For families whose Delhi departure is the first leg of an international move or holiday, VisaHQ can remove another layer of stress by coordinating visas and travel documents online. The platform’s India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) provides step-by-step guidance for more than 200 destinations, secure document upload and real-time status tracking, letting parents devote their attention to the airport’s new family services instead of paperwork.
For global-mobility and travel-management teams, Family@DEL promises smoother crew-changes and assignee relocations involving dependants. Firms should advise relocating staff to factor in slightly different way-finding: dedicated family gates are sign-posted in pink and located at Gates 2 (T1), 4 (T2) and 5 (T3). Because the lanes feed directly into security, travellers must complete web check-in or visit the family desk before entering.
The initiative dovetails with IGIA’s broader ambition to be ranked among Skytrax’s top five mega airports by 2030. In 2025 the airport handled 72 million passengers—13 percent of them children under 12—making family-friendly processing a strategic necessity rather than a cosmetic add-on.
The concept targets travellers accompanied by infants, elderly relatives or persons with reduced mobility (PRMs), groups that typically require more time and personalised assistance. In addition to fast-track channels, the airport has set up complimentary baby-stroller banks, private nursing rooms, PRM-friendly washrooms and child-friendly seating zones in food courts. More than 250 ‘Family Assistance Buddies’, trained in soft skills and emergency procedures, have been deployed to escort passengers through each stage of the journey.
Although the service currently covers only domestic departures, DIAL confirmed to this newsletter that it is studying an expansion to international piers by mid-2026, subject to security audits. If adopted for outbound flights, the model could become a template for other Indian metros eager to differentiate passenger experience without hefty capex.
For families whose Delhi departure is the first leg of an international move or holiday, VisaHQ can remove another layer of stress by coordinating visas and travel documents online. The platform’s India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) provides step-by-step guidance for more than 200 destinations, secure document upload and real-time status tracking, letting parents devote their attention to the airport’s new family services instead of paperwork.
For global-mobility and travel-management teams, Family@DEL promises smoother crew-changes and assignee relocations involving dependants. Firms should advise relocating staff to factor in slightly different way-finding: dedicated family gates are sign-posted in pink and located at Gates 2 (T1), 4 (T2) and 5 (T3). Because the lanes feed directly into security, travellers must complete web check-in or visit the family desk before entering.
The initiative dovetails with IGIA’s broader ambition to be ranked among Skytrax’s top five mega airports by 2030. In 2025 the airport handled 72 million passengers—13 percent of them children under 12—making family-friendly processing a strategic necessity rather than a cosmetic add-on.
