Although international travel has still not reached pre-Covid levels, IGIA did not face this situation before 2020. Several international airlines had their own lounges at T3 (in the wing that houses the Transit Hotel at T3) which were closed during this time. Epidemic and has not been opened again. Now the Air India lounge, space-permitting, is used by other Star Alliance member airlines. And the general lounge has long queues during peak traffic times as it serves a large number of eligible credit card holders and premium passengers both.
It’s not uncommon to see passengers waive their business or first class boarding cards (not AI’s) in this lounge annoyed by long lines. “Often the lounges have more eligible credit card holders than business or first class passengers,” said an airline official.
While DIAL is understood to be planning a mega lounge – much like Mumbai airport’s erstwhile GVK and now Adani lounge, – existing airlines like Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Lufthansa, Air France/KLM, Swiss and a Star Alliance For Gold members – Closed without any interim arrangements adequate to handle post-Covid rush.
A DIAL spokesperson said: “Delhi Airport is pleased to inform you that the new Business Class lounge is now operational at Terminal 3 International. This will further improve the passenger experience of the passengers. An integrated lounge strategy to ensure optimal utilization of lounge space and create a world-class experience for passengers at Delhi Airport.
Many airlines are having a dispute with the airport operator. “After being forced to close all airline lounges during the pandemic, a new monopoly system is being introduced. The prices are three to five times the operating cost of our own airline lounges. Not only that, the lounge we operated was really premium. The common lounge is crowded as thousands of credit card holders also have access to that space. Not allowing airlines to offer restaurant vouchers as an option would amount to restrictive practices,” said senior officials of major foreign airlines operating in Delhi.
AI T3 is in talks with DIAL for the lounge to operate in the international region. With the Maharaja in a major expansion mode and set to receive a larger number of aircraft, the existing lounge – a throwback from AI’s poverty-stricken state-owned days – needed to be upgraded both in terms of space and offering. A senior official had recently told TOI, “We are talking to DIAL and looking at alternate sites or retaining the existing location.”
Airlines say they are unable to understand why DIAL – which unlike most other Indian airport operators does not face space crunch – has taken the lounge issue so lightly. “IGIA is now among the top 10 busiest airports in the world and has several contributions such as four runways, three terminals and an elevated taxiway being a first for an Indian airport. It astonishes us why a relatively small issue like lounges, which is so important for premium and frequent flyers, has not been given priority. It may allow reopening of existing lounges at least till its own planned lounge is ready,” said an airline official.