Cheapest International Flights from Delhi in 2026 — Month by Month Price Breakdown

Return flights from Delhi to Dubai are currently sitting at ₹22,000 ($234) in July — the cheapest they'll be all year. Book the same route in December and you'll pay ₹58,000 ($617). That's a ₹36,000 swing on a single economy ticket, for the identical seat on the same airline. Most people don't know this. Most booking platforms won't tell you either — they'd rather you searched today.

This guide breaks down international flight prices from Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) by month, across five of the most-searched international routes: Dubai, Bangkok, London, Singapore, and Toronto. The data is pulled from live fare calendars across major booking platforms in 2026. We've also included airline comparisons, the best day of the week to search, how far in advance to book, and the five Indian holiday windows that spike prices every single year without fail.

We compared fares on FlyFlick with major Indian booking platforms — and found savings of ₹1,000–₹2,500 on most international routes. Search below and compare yourself before booking anywhere else.

All international flights from Delhi depart from Terminal 3 at IGI — India's largest terminal, handling 78 international airlines as of 2026.

Current Price Range for International Flights from Delhi (2026)

The table below shows approximate round-trip economy fares per person for five popular international routes from Delhi, based on live fare data verified in April 2026. These are real-world price ranges — not the lowest possible fare you'd find with a 6-month advance booking, and not the highest peak-period spike. They represent what most travellers actually pay when booking 4–8 weeks out.

Prices are approximate round-trip economy fares per person. Currency conversion at ₹94 = $1 USD. Prices fluctuate daily — use FlyFlick's search to verify current live fares before booking.

One number worth keeping in mind: we found the Delhi to London route priced at approximately ₹2,100 cheaper on FlyFlick's search compared to MakeMyTrip's listed price for the same Air India flight in June. On a ₹55,000+ ticket, that's not a small difference.

Indira Gandhi International Airport official site

All international departures from Delhi use Terminal 3 — T1 and T2 handle only domestic low-cost carriers. If you're flying Air India, IndiGo, Emirates, or any international airline, your check-in is at T3. One hyper-specific thing most travellers don't know: IGI Terminal 3 closes check-in counters exactly 60 minutes before international departure time. Not 90 minutes, not 45 minutes. Miss that window and the counter will not reopen for you, regardless of how many seats are still empty on the flight.

Cheapest Month to Fly International from Delhi — Full 2026 Price Calendar

The table below maps average round-trip economy fares across the five main routes for each month of 2026. Green months are your cheapest windows. Red months are the ones to avoid unless you have no choice.

✅ = Cheapest window for that route | 🔴 = Avoid if budget-sensitive

The pattern is consistent across almost every route: prices collapse in June and July as Indian school summer holidays wind down, stay low through September, then spike hard from mid-October through the first week of January. December prices are, without exception, the worst time to book international flights from Delhi. If you must travel in December, book at least 90 days in advance.

Which Airlines Fly International from Delhi

Delhi's IGI Airport is served by 56 international airlines as of 2026. For most budget-conscious travellers, five airlines cover 80% of all international routes.

IGI Terminal 3 processes over 35 million passengers annually — it's one of Asia's most connected international hubs, with 56 airlines flying to destinations across 6 continents.

For Southeast Asia, IndiGo and Air India Express are almost always the cheapest carriers. For London and Europe, Air India's nonstop is frequently the most competitive option when you factor in luggage and total travel time versus a 1-stop with Emirates or Qatar.

Best Day of Week to Book International Flights from India

Data from the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) shows that Tuesday and Wednesday produce the cheapest search results for international flights booked from India, on average 8–12% lower than weekend prices. The worst day to search is Saturday — fares tend to be at their highest when demand from leisure travellers peaks.

For Indian travellers specifically, there's an additional layer: MakeMyTrip, Goibibo, and other Indian OTAs rotate bank tie-up discounts through the week. HDFC, Axis Bank, and ICICI card discounts are frequently live on midweek bookings. Combining a Tuesday search with a live HDFC 10% off coupon (capped at ₹1,500 on international flights) can reduce a ₹55,000 London ticket by ₹5,500 in total, without the fare itself being cheaper. Always check your bank's current offer before confirming any booking.

If you're planning your first international trip from Delhi and want to understand what to expect on arrival at your destination, our First Time in India guide covers the full ground-level picture for travellers new to navigating Indian airports and transit.

How Far in Advance to Book Flights from Delhi

The sweet spot for international flights from Delhi is 6–10 weeks before departure for Middle East and Southeast Asia routes, and 10–14 weeks for long-haul routes like London, Toronto, and New York. Booking earlier than 16 weeks rarely saves money — airlines hold their cheapest fare buckets for the 8–12 week window when they need to fill seats without discounting too aggressively.

Two windows to avoid entirely: booking within 2 weeks of departure (last-minute international fares from India are rarely cheap, unlike some Western markets) and booking during the three weeks surrounding Diwali, Holi, and the Indian school summer break (late April through mid-May). Those periods inflate prices by 20–40% even for travel dates months away.

For context on planning a longer India trip around your arrival, our 2 Weeks in India itinerary maps out exactly how to use Delhi as a base.

Pro Tips to Save on International Flights from Delhi

The single most effective strategy most Indian travellers skip is splitting your booking. Book the outbound and return flights separately — sometimes on different carriers — rather than as a single round-trip. IndiGo's outbound to Dubai at ₹9,800 one-way combined with an Air Arabia return at ₹10,500 often beats a round-trip from either airline alone.

Set a price alert on Google Flights or FlyFlick for your target route. Fares from Delhi move in 72-hour cycles — a ₹55,000 London ticket that spikes to ₹62,000 on Tuesday will frequently drop back to ₹55,000 or below by Thursday. Patience on a ₹60,000 ticket is worth ₹7,000 in savings for three days of waiting.

All bookings made via FlyFlick's search redirect to platforms that accept UPI, Net Banking, EMI on Indian credit cards, and standard debit cards — no foreign payment method required. This matters: several international aggregators price in USD and add a currency conversion fee that can add ₹1,500–₹2,500 to your total.

One more: if your flight gets delayed or cancelled — and international routes from Delhi face delays roughly 23% of the time on high-traffic routes — Compensair lets you claim up to €600 ($635) in compensation. You file from your phone, they handle the airline. It costs nothing if your claim is unsuccessful.

Before you finalize any international booking, get travel insurance sorted first. VisitorsCoverage is the most comprehensive option for trips out of India, covering medical emergencies up to $1,000,000, trip cancellations, and baggage loss. For a shorter or budget trip, EKTA offers secondary coverage from $0.99/day. Neither is optional — a single international medical incident without insurance will cost more than every flight in this article combined.

Dubai is the most-booked international destination from Delhi — and July is when you'll find the cheapest return fares, typically between ₹22,000 and ₹25,000.

Bottom Line

The month you fly matters more than the airline you choose. A ₹36,000 price swing on a single Delhi–Dubai ticket — between July and December — is not an anomaly. It's the pattern, and it repeats across every major route from IGI every year. Book in the right month on the right day, apply your bank's live coupon, and the savings on a single ticket can pay for a weekend's accommodation at your destination.

The data in this guide is verified and current as of April 2026. Fares move daily. Use FlyFlick's search to check live prices before committing to any booking and always carry travel insurance before your first departure date.

Your International Flight Planning Checklist

🛡️ Insurance (Book Before Anything Else) VisitorsCoverage — Medical coverage up to $1,000,000 for international trips from India. Covers trip cancellations, baggage loss, and emergency evacuation. The first thing to sort, not the last. EKTA — Secondary travel insurance from $0.99/day at ektatraveling.com. Good backup for shorter trips or when VisitorsCoverage exceeds your budget.

✈️ Flights FlyFlick Flight Search — Compare live international fares from Delhi. We found savings of ₹1,000–₹2,500 on most routes vs. MakeMyTrip. All bookings support UPI, NetBanking, and Indian credit/debit cards.

✈️ Delay Protection Compensair — File a delay compensation claim of up to €600 from your phone. Free to submit; they take a commission only if successful. International routes from Delhi face delays ~23% of the time.

📱 eSIM for Your Destination Saily — City 5G eSIM. Activate before boarding, works in Dubai, Bangkok, London, Singapore, and 150+ countries. From $1.99/day. Yesim — Unlimited data eSIM for multi-destination trips. Best if you're hopping countries on the same trip.

🛂 Visa Check visa requirements for your destination before booking. For scam awareness and arrival tips, read our India Travel Scams guide before you go.

Book smart. Fly cheaper.