Lois Larson
India's busiest airports are major gateways to the country and important hubs for domestic and international travel. The Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi is the busiest airport in India for passenger and cargo traffic. It is the world's tenth-busiest airport by passenger numbers and second-busiest by seating capacity. In this paragraph, we will explore Indira Gandhi International Airport and other airports that are among the busiest in India.
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What You'll Learn
Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi
The airport is named after Indira Gandhi and was inaugurated in 1986, when the new international terminal was opened. It spans over 5,106 acres and boasts four runways, including an Eastern Cross Taxiway, the first of its kind in India. The airport has three terminals, with Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 dedicated to domestic operations, and Terminal 3 catering to both international and domestic flights. Terminal 3 is the newest addition, with five levels, offering a range of amenities for travellers, including lounges, duty-free shopping, dining options, and efficient baggage handling.
Indira Gandhi International Airport has continued to expand and advance, becoming the first airport in India to connect directly to 150 domestic and international destinations. In December 2024, a direct flight between Delhi and Bangkok's Don Mueang airport was launched, marking this milestone. The airport also boasts India's first general aviation terminal, catering to passengers travelling by chartered flights or private jets.
The airport is committed to providing a seamless travel experience, offering convenient facilities and services. It provides free Wi-Fi across all terminals, duty-free shopping, diverse dining options, and efficient security procedures. Additionally, the airport supports various community initiatives through its GMR Varalakshmi Foundation, empowering women and specially-abled children through education, health, and community development programmes.
Indira Gandhi International Airport is a vital gateway to New Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), contributing to India's expanding economy and its growing role in the global travel market.
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Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport is a crucial gateway to Mumbai and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). It is the second busiest airport in India, after Delhi, in terms of total and international passenger traffic. In 2024, it was the 14th busiest airport in Asia and the 31st busiest in the world by passenger traffic. The airport has two terminals, with Terminal 1 at Santacruz dedicated to domestic flights and Terminal 2 catering to both domestic and international flights. Terminal 2, inaugurated in 2014, is a symbol of efficiency and modernity, offering a full range of amenities and services.
The airport is operated by Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL), a joint venture between Adani Enterprises and Airports Authority of India. It has emerged as a key player in India's aviation landscape, providing non-stop or connecting flights to all six inhabited continents. The airport offers unparalleled connectivity, with a dedicated six-lane, elevated road connecting it to the Western Express Highway. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport also plays a vital role in promoting tourism, economic growth, and regional connectivity, solidifying Mumbai's status as a global hub.
The airport has a rich history that reflects the growth and transformation of Mumbai. It has undergone modernisation and expansion to accommodate increasing passenger traffic. In 2018, the airport handled about 49.8 million passengers, and in the financial year 2024-25, it handled a record-breaking number of over 55.1 million passengers, surpassing its maximum capacity of 50 million passengers per year. This growth in passenger traffic highlights the airport's significance as a busy and crucial aviation hub in India and worldwide.
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Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru
The Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, also known as the Bengaluru International Airport, is one of the busiest airports in India. It is named after Bangalore's founder, Kempe Gowda I, and is Karnataka's first fully solar-powered airport. The airport is owned and operated by Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL), a public limited company.
The airport opened in May 2008 to ease congestion at the HAL Airport. It is one of the fastest-growing airports in the world, handling over 37.5 million passengers and 439,495 tonnes of cargo in FY 2023-24. The airport features two runways, two passenger terminals, a cargo village, and three cargo terminals, offering flights to all six inhabited continents. In September 2022, Qantas began flights to Sydney, marking the first non-stop connection between Bengaluru and Oceania. The following month, Emirates began serving the airport with its Airbus A380, the world's largest passenger plane, with daily flights to Dubai.
The construction of the second runway at the airport was completed and inaugurated in December 2019. The runway can cater to Code-F aircraft such as the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747-8 and is equipped with CAT IIIB ILS. The runway also features a parallel taxiway and two cross-field taxiways, linking the new runway to the old runway and the aprons at Terminal 1 and Terminal 2.
In recent years, the airport has become a hub for several airlines, including Kingfisher Airlines, Air Pegasus, AirAsia India, and IndiGo. IndiGo, India's biggest airline, announced in 2019 that it would extend its learning academy, iFly, to Bengaluru, making it their second such facility in the country. Air India has also signed a memorandum of understanding to build Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facilities at the airport.
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Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad
Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (IATA: HYD, ICAO: VOHS) is one of the busiest airports in India, serving Hyderabad, the capital of the Indian state of Telangana. It is located in Shamshabad, about 24 kilometres (15 mi) south of Hyderabad, and was inaugurated on 23 March 2008, replacing the Begumpet Airport, Hyderabad's former civilian airport. The airport is named after Rajiv Gandhi, the former Prime Minister of India, who had undergone pilot training in Hyderabad. Covering an area of 5,500 acres (2,200 ha), it is the largest airport in India by area.
The airport is owned and operated by GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited (GHIAL), a public-private consortium. It was developed as a special-purpose entity, with the State, AAI, and GMR-MAHB placing their stakes. GHIAL signed a shareholders' agreement in September 2003 and received a state subsidy of over ₹4 billion (US$47 million). A concession agreement between GHIAL and the Central Government was signed in December 2004, stipulating that no airport within a 150-kilometre (93 mi) radius of RGIA could be operated, leading to the closure of Begumpet Airport.
Rajiv Gandhi International Airport has achieved numerous accolades. It was ranked among the world's top five in the annual Airport Service Quality (ASQ) passenger survey and won the Center for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) Award in 2009. Additionally, it was the first airport in India to launch domestic and international e-boarding facilities, in December 2015 and October 2020, respectively. The airport has two terminals: Terminal 1 caters to domestic flights, connecting Hyderabad to major cities within India, while Terminal 2 is the well-developed international terminal, connecting the city to the world's major destinations.
The airport features a 100,000-square-metre passenger terminal, designed by Arup, along with key infrastructure such as runways and an air traffic control tower. Runway 09R/27L, the original and primary runway, can accommodate the Airbus A380, the world's largest passenger aircraft. A second, parallel runway, 09L/27R, was inaugurated in February 2012, making Rajiv Gandhi International Airport the first international airport in South India with two runways.
The airport offers a range of amenities, including duty-free shopping with globally competitive pricing and various culinary delights. Transportation to and from the airport is convenient, with Aero Express buses providing non-stop airport shuttle services to destinations like Secunderabad and Masab Tank. The airport is also accessible by rail, with Hyderabad Railway Station located approximately 13 kilometres away.
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Chennai International Airport, Chennai
Chennai International Airport is located in Tirusulam in Chengalpattu district, around 13 miles (21 kilometres) southwest of Chennai's city centre in the Greater Chennai Metropolitan Area. It is the southern regional headquarters of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for South India, serving the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and the union territories of Lakshadweep, and Puducherry.
The airport has two asphalt runways and offers direct flights to three continents. Terminals 1 and 4 handle domestic traffic, while Terminal 2, which is being expanded to replace Terminal 3, handles international operations. A new satellite terminal is also under construction. The airport serves as a hub for Blue Dart Aviation, a focus city for Air India, and an operating base for IndiGo.
Chennai International Airport is the fifth-busiest airport in India by passenger traffic and aircraft movements, and the fourth-busiest by cargo handled and international traffic. In the financial year 2023-24, the airport handled over 17 million passengers and 0.34 million tonnes of cargo. In the following year, these figures increased to over 22 million passengers and 0.37 million tonnes of cargo. The airport is expected to reach saturation by 2035, with a peak capacity of 40 million passengers, and plans for a new greenfield airport are in place.
The airport has received several awards and recognition over the years. In 2017, Airports Council International ranked it third as the Best Airport by Size in the category of 15–25 million passengers per annum. It was also awarded the Best Tourist Friendly Airport by Tamil Nadu Tourism from the Ministry of Tourism consecutively in 2016 and 2018. Additionally, it received the Gold Award by the RoSPA Health and Safety Awards and the Sword of Honour by the British Safety Council for maintaining safety and security.
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Frequently asked questions
Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) in New Delhi is the busiest airport in India. It has been the busiest airport in India for passenger and cargo traffic since 2009.
The Indira Gandhi International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world, recording around 72 million passengers in 2023.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) in Mumbai is the second busiest airport in India. It handled a record 54.8 million passengers in 2024.
