Frankfurt (FRA) to Delhi (DEL) is the most-flown Germany–India route — a well-served corridor with multiple airlines, direct options, and competitive fares. Here is everything you need to know about this route.
Flight Time and Route Options
A direct Frankfurt–Delhi flight takes approximately 7 hours 30 minutes westbound (FRA→DEL) and around 8 hours 30 minutes on the return (DEL→FRA) due to headwinds. Connecting flights via Gulf hubs add 3–6 hours to the total journey. Lufthansa and Air India operate direct services on this route. Emirates, Qatar, and Etihad offer 1-stop connections via Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi respectively.
Airlines and Frequencies
Lufthansa operates daily direct flights from FRA to DEL year-round. Air India also runs direct FRA–DEL flights, typically daily or near-daily. Emirates offers multiple daily connections via Dubai, often with convenient layover times. Qatar Airways connects via Doha and is frequently the cheapest option for economy. Etihad routes via Abu Dhabi. During peak season (August, December), all carriers add capacity, keeping availability reasonable if you book early.
Which Terminal at Frankfurt Airport?
Frankfurt Airport has two passenger terminals. Lufthansa and Star Alliance partners use Terminal 1 (the main terminal). Emirates uses Terminal 2. Check your boarding pass carefully — the two terminals are connected by a SkyLine train but it is a 10-15 minute journey, and immigration and check-in queues are separate. Allow extra time if you are connecting between terminal 1 and terminal 2 at Frankfurt.
Which Terminal at Delhi (Indira Gandhi International)?
Delhi IGI has three passenger terminals. International flights arrive and depart from Terminal 3 — this is where Lufthansa, Air India, Emirates, Qatar, and Etihad all operate from. Terminal 1 is used for domestic budget carriers. Terminal 2 is rarely used for regular scheduled services. On arrival at T3, immigration queues can be long during peak hours — allow 45–90 minutes for immigration and baggage claim when planning onward transport.
Typical Fares: What to Expect
Return fares on the FRA–DEL route range from around €370 in the cheapest January/February months up to €900 during peak August. A realistic budget for a round trip in a mid-demand month (April, September, November) is €450–€600 in economy. Business class return fares typically range from €1,800–€3,500 depending on airline and season, with Qatar and Etihad frequently offering the best value.
Getting from Delhi Airport to the City
The Delhi Metro Airport Express line connects T3 directly to New Delhi Railway Station in about 20 minutes for ₹60. It is reliable, fast, and runs from approximately 5am to midnight. Prepaid taxis from the airport to central Delhi (Connaught Place, Karol Bagh) cost around ₹500–₹700 and are booked at the official prepaid taxi counter inside arrivals. Ola and Uber also operate from the designated ride-hailing pickup zone outside arrivals — typically ₹350–€500 for central Delhi locations.