Indira Gandhi International Airport (VIDP/DEL)
New Delhi, India
New Delhi Airline Crew Layover Guide
Reviewed by Captain AL
Crew car rental deal ↓Hotel deals ↓
The DEL crew card
| Fastest into town | Airport Express Line metro, Terminal 3 to New Delhi Railway Station in about 25 min; from Terminal 2 it is a short walk or shuttle to T3 |
|---|---|
| First / last run | Airport Express first trains 04:45, from New Delhi and from Dwarka Sector 21; last trains 23:15 out of Dwarka Sector 21 and 23:30 out of New Delhi; the T1 Magenta Line runs 05:30 to 23:30 |
| Payments | QR tickets (paper or in the app), smart cards, and bank-issued NCMC cards all work on the Delhi Metro. QR ticketing covers the Airport Express Line. The tourist card does not |
| Tap water | Do not drink from the tap. Official advice for India is to drink only treated or bottled water, because waterborne diseases are very common here: cholera, typhoid, hepatitis |
| Emergency | 112 (112 is the all-in-one number; Delhi authorities also list 100 (police), 101 (fire), and 102 (ambulance)) |
| Solo & at night | Official guidance: do not travel alone at night, and stay extremely vigilant on public transport, in taxis, and in auto-rickshaws. Foreign women often draw unwanted attention. Women’s helpline: 1091 |
| Crew knows | The QR ticket to New Delhi Railway Station carries its price up front: INR 64. The airport’s cab page publishes no tariff table, so once the metro stops around 23:30, the price is whatever you agree before you walk out |
| Crew deals | Verified car rental and hotel rates for airline staff: on this page, right below this guide. |
airlinecrewdiscount.net · DEL crew card · Checked Aug 2026 · Next check Nov 2026 · Screenshot this card for offline
Getting from Delhi Airport to New Delhi by metro, cab, or bus
From Terminal 3, the Airport Express metro is the one leg with a fixed running time. Prepaid and app-based cabs run 24/7 from marked pickup points at every terminal, so the hours the metro misses are covered. Everything else depends on Delhi traffic.
👉 Swipe sideways to see the full table
| Mode | Time | Cost | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airport Express Line metro (Orange Line) | about 25 min to New Delhi Railway Station | The line runs New Delhi Railway Station to Yashobhoomi Dwarka Sector 25 with direct access at Terminal 3, and Terminal 2 is a short walk or shuttle ride from T3. First trains leave at 04:45, from New Delhi and from Dwarka Sector 21. Last trains: 23:15 out of Dwarka Sector 21, 23:30 out of New Delhi. Ticket machines sit in T3 and T2 arrivals, and the metro helpline runs 24×7 on 155370. For the single QR fare, see the metro fares tip (DMRC fare table). | |
| Delhi Metro Magenta Line (Terminal 1) | every 5 min | Terminal 1 only. The underground Terminal 1-IGI Airport station sits a 5 to 7 minute walk (300 to 400 m) from the terminal, reached through a covered subway with travelators. First train 05:30, last train 23:30. Janakpuri West to Botanical Garden is 26 stations end to end, with interchange hubs at Hauz Khas, Kalkaji Mandir, and Botanical Garden. | |
| Prepaid taxi and app-based cabs (Uber, Ola) | 24 hours | All three terminals have 24/7 cab options right outside the arrival gates: prepaid and fixed-rate taxis plus app-based cabs. T3 picks up at the Multi-Level Car Park, Level 0, where Uber and Ola sit alongside Evera EV electric cabs. T2 and T1 pick up outside the arrivals zone, T2 with Uber and Ola, T1 with Rapido on top of Uber and Ola. No official tariff table is published, so agree the price in the app or prepay before you walk out. | |
| DTC city bus | every 30 minutes | DTC buses run 24×7 from T3 and T1 arrivals toward central Delhi, calling at Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi railway station, Old Delhi railway station, and the interstate bus terminals. Routes from T2 (near ATC) run 05:00 to 23:00. Long-distance state coaches leave from the Public Transportation Centre opposite the Centaur Hotel, and dtc.delhi.gov.in carries the route detail. |
Best Areas for Crew Stays in New Delhi: pick your side of town
Aerocity: The airport’s own hotel district, one Airport Express stop from the terminal. It is built for sleep before an early report time, and that is the whole point of it.
Connaught Place: Colonial-era circles of shops and restaurants at the city end of the Airport Express run, coffee included, and the easiest first taste of Delhi.
Old Delhi (Chandni Chowk): Mughal-era lanes around the Red Fort and Jama Masjid, carrying some of the most famous street food in India. Intense and crowded, and worth it anyway.
India Gate and Lutyens’ Delhi: Broad ceremonial avenues, the India Gate lawns, and the government quarter. Open space and an evening walk rather than shopping.
Hauz Khas Village: Medieval ruins on a lake, with boutiques and cafes next to them in South Delhi. Calmer than the tourist core, which is usually the point.
What to Do on a Layover in New Delhi: how much time do you actually have?
Under 5 hours: Stay at the airport. Immigration can eat a chunk of a short window on its own. So can security, and so can Delhi traffic. T3 has food and shopping, plus a 24/7 cloakroom if you need to drop a bag.
5 to 9 hours: One tight loop, no more. Airport Express in, a walk around Connaught Place or a meal in Aerocity, then back with a wide buffer for the return trip and security.
9 hours plus: Now a real Delhi run is on: Old Delhi’s lanes and the Red Fort area, India Gate at sunset, or Hauz Khas if you want it quieter. Plan the ride back around rush hour, not through it.
Crew Tips for New Delhi
Metro fares: A single QR-code ticket between New Delhi and IGI Airport (T3) on the Airport Express Line costs INR 64. Fares across the line run INR 11 to INR 75 (Yashobhoomi Dwarka Sector 25), and the hop from the airport to the Aerocity hotel district is INR 21. Multi-trip cards come in 10, 30, and 45 trips for repeat flyers.
NCMC card: Bank-issued National Common Mobility Cards work across the DMRC network, Airport line included, whichever bank issued yours. Stored-value travel takes 10 percent off in peak hours and 20 percent off outside them. First use needs a one-time activation at a station customer care centre, and top-ups start at INR 200.
Luggage storage: The 24/7 cloakroom sits in the airport connect (DMRC) metro building at Terminal 3, and it takes bags from a few hours up to 30 days. Rates per bag: small (under 7 kg) INR 150 for the first 2 hours, INR 50 per extra hour up to 8 hours, INR 500 for 8 to 24 hours; medium (7.1 to 20 kg) INR 200/80/800; large (over 20 kg) INR 230/100/1,000. Bring the boarding pass and photo ID. The number is +91 8800493889.
Night arrivals: The metro stops around 23:30. Cabs do not: all three terminals keep prepaid and fixed-rate taxis 24/7, plus app-cab pickups right outside the arrival gates. At T3 the app cabs (Uber, Ola, Evera EV) load at the Multi-Level Car Park, Level 0, so follow the signs and ignore anyone offering you a ride inside the hall.
Solo and women travelers: Canadian government advice for India is blunt. Crimes against women occur frequently, foreign women often draw unwanted attention, and harassment can happen anywhere, tourist sites included. Do not travel alone at night. Stay extremely vigilant on public transport, in taxis, and in auto-rickshaws, and keep the women’s helpline 1091 saved in your phone.
Emergency app and tourist helpline: 112 is India’s all-in-one emergency number (ambulance, fire, police), answered in English and Hindi plus additional languages, and the official 112 India mobile app can track your location to support the response. Non-emergencies go to the tourist helpline on 1800 11 1363.
Emergency Numbers for New Delhi and India
👉 Swipe sideways if the numbers do not fit
| Emergency (police, fire, ambulance) | 112 |
| Police | 100 |
| Fire | 101 |
| Ambulance | 102 |
| Women’s helpline | 1091 |
| Tourist helpline (Ministry of Tourism, 24 hours) | 1800 11 1363 |
| India country code (calling from abroad) | +91 |
Save these before you fly; numbers work from any phone.
How do you get from Delhi Airport to the city centre?
The Airport Express Line metro links Terminal 3 with New Delhi Railway Station in about 25 minutes. A single QR ticket is INR 64, and the machines are in T3 and T2 arrivals. Prepaid and app-based cabs (Uber, Ola) run 24/7 from outside arrivals at every terminal, and DTC buses leave around the clock from T3 and T1 roughly every 30 minutes.
How much is the metro from Delhi Airport to New Delhi Railway Station?
INR 64 for a single QR-code ticket on the Airport Express Line. Line fares range from INR 11 to INR 75, and the short hop from the airport to the Aerocity hotel district costs INR 21. Frequent flyers can buy multi-trip cards for 10, 30, or 45 trips.
Is Uber available at Delhi Airport?
Yes. App-based cabs including Uber and Ola pick up 24/7 at all three terminals. At Terminal 3 that means the Multi-Level Car Park, Level 0, where Evera EV electric cabs also operate. Terminal 1 adds Rapido, and every terminal has prepaid and fixed-rate taxis right outside arrivals.
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Crew Discounts in New Delhi: verified car rental and hotel rates for airline staff sit right below this guide.
