New Airport Lounges India 2026 — Tier 2 City Lounge Expansion

Bottom Line: 2026 is shaping up to be the biggest year for airport lounge expansion in India — Air India’s flagship Maharaja Lounge is already open at Delhi T3, and multiple Tier 2 cities are getting new or upgraded lounges. If you hold the right credit card, your domestic travel experience is about to get significantly better.

The Big Picture: India’s Lounge Game Is Levelling Up

For years, airport lounge access in India followed a predictable pattern: decent options at Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru — and pretty much nothing worth writing home about everywhere else. Tier 2 airports like Lucknow, Jaipur, Coimbatore, and Guwahati had either cramped, underwhelming lounges or none at all.

That’s changing in 2026. A combination of airline ambition, airport privatisation under the UDAN scheme’s ripple effects, and aggressive credit card partnerships is finally pushing premium infrastructure beyond the metro bubble.

Air India’s Maharaja Lounge: The Headline Act

Air India officially opened its flagship Maharaja Lounge at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (Terminal 3, international pier) on February 16, 2026. This isn’t a rebrand of an old space — it’s a ground-up build that signals how seriously the Tata-owned airline is taking its premium positioning.

Who Gets In?

Air India First and Business Class passengers
Maharaja Club Gold and Platinum members
Eligible Star Alliance Gold members (this includes frequent flyers on Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, ANA, etc.)

Notably, this is not a credit-card-accessible lounge — at least not yet. There’s no DreamFolks or Priority Pass tie-up for the Maharaja Lounge. Access is purely ticket-class or loyalty-tier based.

What’s Next for Air India Lounges?

Air India has confirmed plans for new lounges at San Francisco (SFO) and New York JFK as well. Domestically, expect branded lounges at Mumbai and Bengaluru to follow. CEO Campbell Wilson has called this an “exciting transformation” — and for once, the marketing language isn’t overblown.

Tier 2 City Lounge Expansion: Where It Actually Matters

Here’s the part that affects most Indian travellers. The real story of 2026 isn’t one flagship lounge in Delhi — it’s the quiet expansion happening at airports you actually fly through regularly.

Airport Authority of India (AAI) and private operators like Adani Airport Holdings have been upgrading terminal infrastructure at Tier 2 airports. New or expanded lounges have been confirmed or are under development at:

Lucknow (LKO) — New terminal with lounge space
Jaipur (JAI) — Terminal 2 expansion includes premium lounge
Guwahati (GAU) — Upgraded post-Adani takeover
Thiruvananthapuram (TRV) — New international terminal with lounge
Varanasi (VNS) — Expanded post-UDAN traffic growth
Coimbatore (CJB) — New terminal development underway

Most of these lounges are being operated by TFS (Travel Food Services) or Plaza Premium and are accessible via DreamFolks — which means your credit card lounge benefit actually works here.

Which Credit Cards Get You In?

This is where it gets practical. Here’s how the major credit cards with domestic lounge access stack up in 2026:

Card	Annual Fee	Domestic Lounge Visits/Year	Network	Tier 2 Coverage
HDFC Infinia	Rs 12,500	Unlimited (Priority Pass)	Visa/Mastercard	Excellent
SBI Card ELITE	Rs 4,999	6 (domestic via DreamFolks)	Visa/Mastercard	Good
Axis Atlas	Rs 5,000	8 (domestic via DreamFolks)	Visa	Good
IDFC First Select	Rs 499	4 (domestic via Visa)	Visa	Moderate
Au Small Finance LIT	Rs 0 (LTF)	4 (domestic via RuPay/Visa)	RuPay/Visa	Moderate
HDFC Regalia	Rs 2,500	8 (domestic via DreamFolks)	Visa/Mastercard	Good
Amex Platinum Travel	Rs 3,500	4 (domestic)	Amex	Limited at Tier 2

Key Takeaway

If you primarily fly domestic routes through Tier 2 airports, DreamFolks-linked cards (SBI ELITE, HDFC Regalia, Axis Atlas) give you the broadest coverage. Priority Pass is great internationally but its domestic India footprint is thinner than DreamFolks.

Amex remains problematic at smaller airports — both for lounge access and merchant acceptance. Stick to Visa or Mastercard for Tier 2 travel.

The DreamFolks Factor

DreamFolks Solutions, the Delhi-based aggregator, is the invisible backbone of credit card lounge access in India. They partner with over 60 lounges across Indian airports and are the bridge between your bank’s credit card benefit and the actual lounge operator.

In 2026, DreamFolks has been aggressively adding Tier 2 lounges to its network. This matters because when a new lounge opens at, say, Varanasi or Coimbatore, it doesn’t automatically appear on your Priority Pass app — but it likely shows up on DreamFolks faster.

Pro tip: Before you fly, check the DreamFolks app (not just your bank’s app) for the most current list of accessible lounges at your departure airport.

What This Means for Your Card Strategy

If you’re picking a credit card in 2026 with lounge access as a priority:

Flying mostly domestic, Tier 1 cities? Almost any mid-tier card works. HDFC Regalia or SBI ELITE are solid.
Flying domestic through Tier 2 cities? Prioritise DreamFolks coverage. Axis Atlas and SBI ELITE are your best bets.
Flying international? Priority Pass is still king. HDFC Infinia or Diners Club Black remain the gold standard.
On a budget? IDFC First Select at Rs 499/year gives you 4 domestic visits — arguably the best value-per-rupee lounge card in India.

Don’t over-index on lounge access alone — but if you’re flying 8-10 times a year, the right card pays for itself just in lounge visits.

Best Travel Credit Cards in India — Our full ranking for frequent flyers
Credit Card Comparison Tool — Side-by-side card matchups based on your spending
India Credit Card Rules You Should Know — RBI regulations, billing cycles, and your rights

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I access the Air India Maharaja Lounge with a credit card?

Not currently. The Maharaja Lounge at Delhi T3 is restricted to Air India First/Business Class passengers and Maharaja Club Gold/Platinum or Star Alliance Gold members. There’s no DreamFolks or Priority Pass access as of March 2026.

Which credit card gives the most domestic lounge visits in India?

HDFC Infinia offers unlimited domestic lounge visits via Priority Pass. For a more affordable option, HDFC Regalia and Axis Atlas both offer 8 domestic visits per year via DreamFolks.

Do Tier 2 airport lounges accept Priority Pass?

Coverage is limited. Most Tier 2 lounges in India are operated via DreamFolks or TFS, not Priority Pass. Always check the DreamFolks app before travelling if your card uses that network.

Is DreamFolks better than Priority Pass for India?

For domestic travel within India — yes. DreamFolks covers 60+ Indian airport lounges compared to Priority Pass’s smaller domestic footprint. For international travel, Priority Pass is significantly better.

Are there any free credit cards with lounge access?

Au Small Finance Bank LIT card is lifetime free and includes 4 domestic lounge visits per year. IDFC First Select at Rs 499/year is another near-free option with 4 visits.

Will more Tier 2 airports get lounges in 2026?

Yes. Airport expansion projects at Lucknow, Jaipur, Guwahati, Thiruvananthapuram, Varanasi, and Coimbatore all include new or upgraded lounge facilities. Most are expected to be DreamFolks-accessible upon opening.