Air India offers check-in, baggage services at Delhi metro: Check stepwise guide for passengers here

Full-cost carrier Air India is offering check-in and baggage services for passengers traveling to the airport by metro in the national capital. According to the airline, the move aims to make passenger journey “more seamless” while avoiding traffic delays and saving time.

“This is yet another step towards enhancing the travel experience for our guests ensuring comfort, convenience, and peace of mind from city to sky,” the airline said in an official statement on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).

Air India check-in, baggage services at Delhi metro: Details

In the post and in an official release, Air India said that the move is aimed at making passenger journey more seamless. Here are the flight details, timings, and availability for travelers:

• With Air India's Delhi Metro check-in service, you can now complete your check-in formalities at the New Delhi Railway Metro Station and Shivaji Stadium Metro station.
• Dedicated city check-in counters have been set up for Air India passengers inside the two metro stations.
• Early check-in is available for both domestic and international flights.
• Secure baggage transfer facility will also be available directly from the Metro to the airport. The bags will be tagged and securely transferred to the airport baggage system.
• Daily timings for the services will be between 7 am to 9 pm.
• In terms of operations: Domestic passengers can check in and drop baggage up to 12 hours before departure; while international passengers can check in and drop baggage up to four hours before departure.

Making a case for use of the service, the airline added that this is “a convenient way to avoid traffic delays and save time.”

How to avail check-in, baggage facility at Delhi Metro: Step-by-step guide

• Enter the dedicated city check-in area at the New Delhi Railway Metro Station or the Shivaji Stadium Metro station. Operating hours are: 7 am to 9 pm.
• Here airline staff will verify your ticket / IDs / VISA and issue a boarding pass on the spot.
• Once check-in is completed, you can also drop your baggage at the counter, which will be tagged and securely transferred to airport system. For international flights you can avail baggage drop up to four hours in advance, and for domestic flights up to 12 hours before departure.
• Once process is completed, you can board the express metro and arrive at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) Terminal and directly proceed to the security check and then departure area, skipping counter queues.

Air India Delhi-Shanghai flights to resume next year: Details

Besides the check-in services announcement, the airline on November 17 also announced that it will resume direct flights from Delhi to Shanghai (PVG) in mainland China from February 1, 2026 — after a gap of close to six years, PTI reported.

Air India will operate Delhi-Shanghai flights four times a week with its Boeing 787-8 aircraft that will have 18 business and 238 economy class seats, as per a release. The airline added that it also plans to introduce non-stop services between Mumbai and Shanghai in 2026, subject to regulatory approvals.

Direct flights between India and China with the IndiGo route from Kolkata to Guangzhou resumed on October 26, while the Delhi-Shanghai route resumed on November 10 by China Eastern Airlines.

The flights had originally been halted during early 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, when the airline was owned by the government. It is now a Tata Group entity.