India's Robust Aviation Network: Exploring Operational Airports

India's rapidly growing aviation sector boasts over a hundred airports, including international and domestic hubs, connecting its diverse landscapes and driving economic growth. The country currently has around 137 airports in operation, a number that is expected to increase to 220 by 2024-25. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) manages 137 airports, including 24 international airports, 10 customs airports, and 103 domestic airports. However, there are varying numbers given for the number of international airports, with one source stating there are 33 international and 11 limited international airports. India's airports vary in size and capacity, serving as critical gateways that connect the country's diverse regions and foster global connectivity.

India's busiest airports

India has 137 airports in total, including 24 international airports, 10 customs airports, and 103 domestic airports. Here is a detailed overview of India's busiest airports:

Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi (DEL)

Indira Gandhi International Airport has been India's busiest airport for passenger and cargo traffic since 2009 and is the world's tenth-busiest airport by passenger numbers. It is owned by GMR Airport Limited (64%), the Airports Authority of India (26%), and Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide (10%). The airport has three terminals and a 4,430-metre runway. To accommodate the increasing traffic, a second airport, Noida International Airport, is currently under construction.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai (BOM)

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport is India's second busiest airport. It offers flights to all six inhabited continents and is operated by Mumbai International Airport Limited, a joint venture between Adani Enterprises and the Airports Authority of India. The airport has two terminals.

Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (BLR)

Kempegowda International Airport is the third busiest airport in India, handling over 37.5 million passengers and 439,495 tonnes of cargo in fiscal year 2023-24. The airport has two passenger terminals, two runways, a cargo village, and three cargo terminals. It is named after Bangalore's founder, Kempe Gowda I, and is Karnataka's first fully solar-powered airport.

Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad (HYD)

Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is the fourth busiest airport in India, serving over 25 million passengers and 150,000 tonnes of cargo annually. It opened in 2008, replacing Begumpet Airport. Located 24 kilometres south of Hyderabad, it is the largest airport in India by area, covering 5,500 acres. This airport was the first in India to offer domestic and international e-boarding.

Chennai International Airport, Chennai (MAA)

Chennai International Airport is the fifth busiest airport in India for passenger traffic and aircraft movements and the third busiest for international traffic. In 2023-24, it handled over 17 million passengers and 0.34 million tonnes of cargo. With an expected capacity of 40 million passengers by 2035, plans for a new greenfield airport are in place.

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata (CCU)

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, opened in 1924, is one of India's oldest airports and a major hub for eastern and northeastern India. It accommodated over 20 million passengers in 2023-24, making it the sixth busiest airport in India. The airport covers an area of 6.64 square kilometres.

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad (AMD)

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport is Gujarat's busiest and largest airport, serving over 11 million passengers in 2023-24. It is a vital hub for Air India and IndiGo. The airport was established in 1937 and began international operations in 1991. Due to space constraints, a new airport, Dholera International, is currently under development.

Cochin International Airport, Kochi (COK)

Cochin International Airport is the busiest and largest airport in Kerala. It is also the fourth busiest airport in India for international passengers. The airport serves 31 international and 22 domestic destinations with three passenger terminals and one cargo terminal. It is known for being the world's first fully solar-powered airport and has received awards for its achievements.

The country's oldest airport

India's oldest airport is the Juhu Aerodrome, located in an upmarket suburb of Mumbai, Maharashtra. It was founded in 1928 as India's first civil aviation airport, four years after the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport opened.

The airport was initially an unpaved airfield, taking over from the Kalyan Airstrip, which was built in the early 1920s. The Bombay Flying Club used the aerodrome for teaching, joyrides, and air travel. In 1932, JRD Tata landed at Juhu, inaugurating India's first scheduled commercial mail service. This was the birth of Air India, which was then based out of a hut with a palm-thatched roof.

Juhu served as the primary airport for Mumbai during and after World War II. However, in 1948, commercial operations moved to the larger RAF Santa Cruz, later renamed the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, which was built just 2km east of Juhu.

Today, the Juhu Aerodrome handles all helicopter operations out of Mumbai, as well as hosting the Bombay Flying Club. It has two operational runways, with Runway 08/26 pointing towards the Arabian Sea. The Airports Authority of India has proposed extending this runway into the sea to allow larger aircraft to land, but permission has been denied due to environmental concerns.

India's most beautiful airport

India has a total of 137 airports, including 103 domestic airports, 24 international airports, and 10 customs airports. Here is a list of some of India's most beautiful airports:

Veer Savarkar International Airport, Port Blair

Known for its lush greenery, this airport is located in the capital of the Andaman Islands. It is also known as Port Blair Airport.

Gaggal Airport, Kangra

Nestled in the Himalayan ranges, Gaggal Airport sits at an altitude of 2525 ft, around 14 km away from Dharamshala in the Kangra district. The airport is surrounded by nature and offers a breathtaking view.

Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport, Ladakh

One of the world's highest airports, Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport is located at an altitude of approximately 3256 meters. It offers spectacular views of the snow-clad mountains in the region.

Dabolim Airport, Goa

Also known as Goa International Airport, Dabolim Airport is located in the village of Dabolim, close to the seashore. Its breathtaking location makes it one of the most beautiful airports in the country.

Agatti Airport, Lakshadweep

Agatti Airport, also known as Agatti Aerodrome, is located on a narrow strip of land surrounded by the endless ocean on both sides. The airport offers a mesmerising view and a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi

Indira Gandhi International Airport is one of the busiest airports in India. It is beautifully planned and boasts tasteful aesthetics. The airport offers a wide range of amenities to ensure a relaxing experience for its passengers.

Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai

Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport is the second busiest airport in India. It offers a variety of amenities, including a shower area, a bar, a library, fine dining options, and a business centre. The airport is also known for its unique architecture.

Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru

Kempegowda International Airport recently opened its new Terminal 2, which is touted to compete with some of the world's most beautiful airports. The airport offers a wide range of shopping and dining options.

Lengpui Airport, Mizoram

Passengers stepping out of their planes at Lengpui Airport are greeted by a spectacular view of greenery, with numerous shades of green creating a therapeutic atmosphere. It is located 32 km from Aizawl at an altitude of 504 meters above sea level.

Shimla Airport, Shimla

Shimla Airport stands out from the airports in metro cities with its aesthetic appeal. It is located 22 km from Shimla in Jabarhatti and offers a breathtaking view of the lush green valleys surrounding it.

Airports with the longest runways

India has a fast-growing aviation market, with numerous big international airports and smaller regional and military airports. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) manages a total of 137 airports, including 103 domestic airports, 24 international airports, and 10 customs airports.

• Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi: The airport's longest runway, 11/29, measures 4,430 meters, with the airport boasting three other runways of similar length. This airport is the largest and busiest in India.
• Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad: The primary runway at this airport measures 4,260 meters, with a secondary runway of 3,707 meters.
• INS Rajali, Arakkonam: This naval air station has a single runway spanning 4,103 meters, considered one of Asia's longest military runways.
• Kempegowda International Airport, Bangalore: This airport features two parallel runways, both measuring 4,000 meters.
• Sheikh ul Alam Airport (Srinagar International Airport), Srinagar: The lone runway at this airport spans 3,685 meters.

If only commercial airports are considered, Kempegowda International Airport would rank third, followed by Sheikh ul Alam Airport and Chennai International Airport.

Airports with the best services

India has 137 airports in total, including 103 domestic airports, 24 international airports, and 10 customs airports. Here is a list of some of the best airports in India in terms of services:

Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi

Indira Gandhi International Airport is the largest airport in India, covering an area of 5106 acres. It is also one of the busiest airports in the world, recording around 72 million passengers in 2023. The airport is named after the former prime minister of India, Indira Gandhi, and is located in the heart of the country's capital. The airport authorities have plans to expand the airport to accommodate 100 million passengers by 2030. It was also India's first airport to have four runways.

Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad

The second-largest airport in India, the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, spans 5500 acres. It is also one of the top 10 airports in the world, according to AirHelp. The airport has adopted sustainable initiatives, switching to 100% renewable energy, reducing carbon emissions by 9,300 tons annually. It was the first airport in India to implement domestic e-boarding in 2015 and later international e-boarding in 2020.

Kempegowda International Airport, Bangalore

Kempegowda International Airport, founded in 2008, is spread over 4000 acres. The airport has direct flights connecting all inhabited continents except South America. It features two parallel runways, allowing for the simultaneous takeoff and landing of two different flights. The new Terminal 2, opened in 2022, showcases impressive engineering with its use of bamboo in construction and a design inspired by Bangalore's "Garden City."

Cochin International Airport, Kochi

Located in southwestern India, Cochin International Airport is the first fully solar-powered airport in the world, with over 46,000 solar panels. It is the eighth busiest airport in India in terms of passenger traffic and has received the 'Champions of the Earth' award from the UN for its sustainable efforts in energy consumption.

Manohar International Airport, Goa

Manohar International Airport, completed in 2023, can handle nearly 4.4 million passengers annually, with expansion plans to increase this capacity to 13.1 million by 2025. The airport has implemented Digiyatra, a biometric-enabled seamless travel experience with facial recognition and digital kiosks for easy security checks and boarding.

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