Travel By Air

International Airports
India is home to numerous international airports, serving as gateways to the country and facilitating global connectivity. These airports play a crucial role in the nation’s economy, tourism, and transportation. Below is an overview of some of the major international airports in India:
Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), Delhi (DEL)
The busiest airport in India and South Asia, IGIA is a significant hub for domestic and international travel. It boasts world-class facilities, including Terminal 3, one of the largest passenger terminals in the world. The airport’s passenger capacity is over 60 million annually.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), Mumbai (BOM), Maharashtra
The second busiest airport in India, serving as a hub for major airlines and connecting Mumbai, India’s financial capital, with the world. Terminal 2 is renowned for its cutting-edge design and art installations showcasing Indian culture. Passenger Traffic: Approximately 50 million annually.
Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (BLR), Karnataka
The primary airport for the IT capital of India caters to business travelers and leisure passengers alike. It is known for its green initiatives, including solar-powered operations. Passenger Capacity: Over 33 million annually.
Chennai International Airport (MAA), Tamil Nadu
One of the oldest airports in India, it serves as a central hub for travelers to and from South India. It is undergoing upgrades to handle higher passenger capacity and enhance its infrastructure. Passenger Traffic: It handles approximately 22 million passengers annually.
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata (CCU), West Bengal
A key airport for travelers to eastern and northeastern India, named after the famous Indian freedom fighter. Expanded terminal facilities to accommodate increasing passenger loads. Passenger Capacity: Over 22 million annually.
Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad (HYD), Telangana
It is recognized for its efficient operations and passenger-friendly infrastructure, serving as a southern and central India hub. Regularly ranked among the best airports in its category for service quality. Passenger Traffic: Approximately 21 million annually.
Cochin International Airport (COK), Kerala
The first airport in the world to run entirely on solar power. It is a gateway to Kerala, India’s tourist hotspot known as “God’s Own Country.” Passenger Traffic: Handles over 10 million annually.
Goa International Airport (GOI)
Primarily catering to leisure travelers visiting Goa’s beaches and cultural landmarks.
New Addition: Mopa International Airport, also known as Manohar International Airport, complements operations in Goa and handles additional traffic. Passenger traffic is around 8 million annually.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad (AMD), Gujarat
A key gateway to Gujarat, facilitating business and tourist travel to cities like Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. Passenger Traffic: Approximately 11 million passengers are handled annually.
Jaipur International Airport (JAI), Rajasthan
It is a gateway for international tourists visiting Rajasthan, known for its forts, palaces, and heritage sites. Though it handles international traffic, many domestic flights cater to the state’s booming tourism industry.
Major Domestic Airports Across India
Classification of Domestic Airports
Indian domestic airports are classified based on their location, size, and traffic:
- Tier-1 Airports: Located in major metropolitan areas and state capitals. Examples: Pune, Lucknow, and Thiruvananthapuram airports.
- Tier-2 and Tier-3 Airports: Smaller airports connecting non-metropolitan cities, such as Gorakhpur, Surat, and Madurai airports.
Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru
While primarily serving as an international hub, its domestic terminal handles significant passenger traffic.
Pune Airport (PNQ), Maharashtra
Located in Lohegaon, it serves one of India’s fastest-growing cities, linking major domestic destinations.
Lucknow’s Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport (LKO), Uttar Pradesh
A central hub for air travel in northern India, serving the state capital and surrounding regions.
Chandigarh International Airport (IXC), Punjab and Haryana
Serves as the primary airport for Chandigarh, Panchkula, and Mohali, handling domestic connections to key Indian cities.
Trivandrum International Airport (TRV), Kerala
Besides international flights, it links Kerala’s capital to major Indian cities like Mumbai and Delhi.
Emerging Domestic Airports
As part of India’s regional connectivity program under the UDAN scheme (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik), several new domestic airports have been developed to connect underserved and remote regions. Notable airports include:
Durgapur Airport (RDP), West Bengal: Boosting industrial and academic connections.
Bareilly Airport (BEK), Uttar Pradesh: This connects smaller cities to hubs like Delhi and Mumbai.
Darbhanga Airport (DBR), Bihar: A significant addition to the north Bihar region, helping meet passenger demand.
Key Airports by Zones
North India: Amritsar (ATQ), Varanasi (VNS), Dehradun (DED), and Srinagar (SXR).
South India: Coimbatore (CJB), Mangalore (IXE), Vijayawada (VGA), and Vizag (VTZ).
West India: Udaipur (UDR), Rajkot (RAJ), Surat (STV), Aurangabad (IXU).
East and Northeast India: Bagdogra (IXB), Silchar (IXS), Imphal (IMF), Dimapur (DMU).