Ways to get there from Australia
Journey times below are our estimates: scheduled flying time plus a typical connection. Your actual times depend on the dates and the connection you book.
| From | Non-stop? | Usual routings | Typical journey time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide | No | Singapore Airlines via Singapore; Malaysia Airlines via Kuala Lumpur; Emirates via Dubai; Qatar Airways via Doha; or a domestic flight to Melbourne for the non-stop | 14–19 h via Singapore; 16–20 h via Melbourne |
| Brisbane | No | Singapore Airlines via Singapore; Malaysia Airlines via Kuala Lumpur (daily from 25 Oct 2026); Emirates; Qatar Airways; or a domestic flight to Sydney for the non-stop | 15–20 h via Singapore; 17–20 h via Sydney |
| Melbourne | Yes | Air India non-stop (rising from 7 to 11 flights a week from 27 Oct 2026); Qantas QF69 non-stop on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays (26 Oct 2026–27 Mar 2027); one-stop via Singapore, Kuala Lumpur or Colombo | 12.5–13 h non-stop |
| Sydney | Yes | Air India AI301 non-stop, daily and rising to 11 a week from 16 Dec 2026; one-stop via Singapore, Kuala Lumpur or Abu Dhabi | About 13 h non-stop |
From Adelaide and Brisbane
Neither city has a non-stop to India. Adelaide Airport has named Delhi as a route it wants, but no airline has committed. Singapore Airlines is usually the quickest one-stop from both cities, with a single ticket and bags checked through. Flying to Melbourne or Sydney for the Air India non-stop can work when the fare is good, but book the domestic flight on the same ticket if you can. If you can't, allow at least three hours at the gateway, because a late domestic flight on a separate ticket is your problem, not the airline's.
From Melbourne and Sydney
Air India's non-stops leave in the evening and land early the next morning. Qantas QF69 is a daytime flight that lands in the late afternoon. In December and January the non-stops often sell out first, so compare the one-stop carriers too.
About the airport
Delhi's airport is Indira Gandhi International (DEL). All international flights use Terminal 3, whichever airline you fly. Domestic flights can leave from Terminal 1, 2 or 3 depending on the airline and flight number, so check the boarding pass before you head for the shuttle bus.
- Immigration and customs: everyone arriving from Australia clears immigration and customs at T3. If you're continuing to another Indian city, you collect your bags, clear customs and re-check them for the domestic flight, even on one ticket. We suggest at least three hours for that connection. Our e-Arrival Card guide explains the arrival paperwork.
- Into the city: the Airport Express metro line runs from T3 to New Delhi railway station in about 15–20 minutes, which is also handy for trains north to Punjab, Haryana and Himachal. Prepaid taxis and app cabs wait outside arrivals.
- Winter fog: December and January mornings in Delhi can bring dense fog. Long-haul arrivals usually get in, but domestic connections can be delayed, so don't book a tight onward flight in those months.
Nearby cities this airport serves
Delhi airport is the gateway for the whole National Capital Region: Gurugram, Noida, Faridabad and Ghaziabad, plus much of Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh. It's also the main connecting point for Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan, by domestic flight, train or road.
For Punjab, compare before you book. Amritsar has its own international links (see our Amritsar page), and since 15 May 2026 Air India has flown twice daily between Delhi and the new Halwara airport near Ludhiana. Our Punjab page sets out the options for Amritsar, Chandigarh, Ludhiana and Jalandhar.
Busy seasons and festivals
- Australian summer holidays: the South Australian summer break runs 12 December 2026 to 27 January 2027, and other states are similar. This is the busiest period of the year for Delhi.
- Diwali: 8 November 2026 and 29 October 2027. Seats in the two weeks before Diwali go quickly. See our Diwali guide.
- Wedding season: roughly November to February, overlapping with the school holidays.
- Holi: 22 March 2027. See our Holi guide.
Tips from our team
- Non-stop isn't automatically cheapest. A one-stop fare via Singapore or Kuala Lumpur sometimes costs less, and comes with a different baggage allowance. Compare the total, including bags.
- Check the baggage on each fare. Allowances vary by airline and fare type. Our baggage guide sets out the main carriers.
- Book wheelchair help at the time of booking. It's free with the airline, and Delhi T3 involves long walks between gates and immigration.
- Parents flying from Delhi to Australia have different transit rules from Australian passport holders. See our transit rules guide.
Talk to a real person about flights to Delhi
Fares and schedules change every day, so we don't publish prices on this page. For live fares on your dates, call or WhatsApp the Travel Care team on 0421 882 733. We're a family-run agency at 222 Henley Beach Road, Torrensville, booking flights since 2010, and we speak English, Hindi and Punjabi. Seen a cheaper fare somewhere else? Send us the screenshot and we'll see what we can do.
Last checked: 20 October 2026 by the Travel Care team.
