India, United States, Canada, Ireland, Bahamas, Bermuda, Aruba, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand – Delhi International Airport Eyes New Pre-Clearance Facility to Improve Connectivity for Tourists Flying to the US. - Travel And Tour World (2025)

Sunday, April 20, 2025

In a move set to transform international air travel for millions, Delhi International Airport (DEL) has formally requested the establishment of a US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Pre-Clearance facility. This initiative, backed by Delhi International Airport Ltd. (DIAL) and supported by the GMR Group, aims to make US-bound travel from India faster, more seamless, and globally competitive.

The CBP pre-clearance system would allow passengers on nonstop flights from Delhi to the United States to complete immigration, customs, and agricultural inspections at Indira Gandhi International Airport before departure. Upon arrival in the US, these travelers would be treated as domestic arrivals—skipping long lines and processing delays at busy American airports.

Currently, US CBP pre-clearance facilities operate at 16 airports in countries like Canada, Ireland, the UAE, the Bahamas, Aruba, and Bermuda. Over 600 CBP officers are deployed across these global locations, processing more than 22 million travelers annually. Delhi is now making its case to become the first airport in India to join this network.

Transforming Delhi Into a World-Class Aviation Hub

Air India (AI), United Airlines (UA), and American Airlines (AA) currently operate more than 33 weekly nonstop flights between Delhi and key US cities such as New York (JFK and EWR), San Francisco, and Chicago. With the expansion of nonstop routes and increased frequency, a CBP facility would drastically improve the efficiency and appeal of these services.

GMR Airports Executive Director SGK Kishore emphasized the strategic value of the move, stating, “We are actively exploring a US pre-clearance facility to enhance our role as a key transit hub for international travel.”

The initiative is expected to attract not only Indian travelers but also passengers from neighboring countries—including Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Thailand—who are seeking faster, more convenient connections to the United States.

Operational, Legal, and Infrastructure Considerations

The implementation of such a facility involves a bilateral agreement between the US and Indian governments, along with major infrastructure investments to meet CBP design and security standards. Delhi may also need to allocate a US-controlled operational zone within the airport where American regulations apply, similar to the setup in Abu Dhabi.

Abu Dhabi’s airport, which funds its CBP facility, serves as a working model. Delhi may consider a similar investment to boost its competitive edge and attract greater international footfall.

Supporting India’s Aviation Ambitions

India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation has long-term goals of developing Delhi as a global transit hub. The addition of a pre-clearance facility will align with these objectives and offer Indian airlines—especially Air India—an edge over Gulf and Southeast Asian carriers such as Emirates, Etihad, and Singapore Airlines.

As Air India continues to grow its long-haul capabilities with new aircraft like the Airbus A350 and IndiGo signals interest in international expansion, the timing is ripe for Delhi to cement its position as a critical air travel gateway between Asia and the Americas.

Increased US-India travel demand, airline expansion, and government-level coordination may soon bring a transformative change to South Asia’s busiest airport—reshaping how travelers experience long-haul air travel.