Airports in India handle more than 80 million passengers each year, making them among the busiest in the world. In this article, we will discuss the top 10 busiest airports in India, ordered by the total number of passengers and by the number of international and domestic passengers.
The transportation industry has drastically changed over the last few decades and the aviation industry is playing a very important role. Air travel is nowadays popular means of travel for long-distance and plays a very important role in the country’s economy also. Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, which handled millions of passengers during the 2021-2022 fiscal year is India’s largest and busiest airports in India.
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List Of Top 10 Busiest Airports in India
1. Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) – New Delhi
Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) opened in 1960, is one of two international airports serving New Delhi, and it is located in Palam and also known as Palam Airport. Named after Indira Gandhi, a former Prime Minister of India, it is operated by GMR Group-led Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL).
This airport has handled over 60 million passengers in 2019, making it the busiest airport in India by total passenger traffic. The airport has three terminals and handles domestic as well as international flights. It serves as an operating base for Air India and Jet Airways. From recent data IGI airport become world’s second busiest in seat capacity by knocking out Dubai.
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2. Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (BOM) – Mumbai
With 50 million passengers passing through it annually, aptly named after Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, it is among one of the busiest airports in India. This airport is opened in 1942 during British rule. According to industry reports, Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport recorded a 16% passenger growth in years. Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport also serves as a primary hub for Air India, Air Asia, Spicejet, and many more. It is spread over 4 km and has two parallel runways and also two terminals which is capable to handle 29 landings and 25 take-offs simultaneously. It is currently one of the busiest airports in India handling more than 36,000 passenger movements per day.
3. Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) – Bangalore
The Kempegowda International Airport opened almost a decade ago in 2008 is situated at Devanahalli, about 30 kilometers from Bangalore city. It is often referred to as Bengaluru International Airport or BLR Airport. The airport serves domestic and international flights for passengers traveling through Bangalore, and Karnataka.
As well as other parts of southern India. With a capacity to handle approximately 20 million passengers each year, it is widely considered to be one of the busiest airports in India. Additional facilities at Kempegowda include catering services, flight planning rooms, and VIP lounges for travelers requiring extra care or attention while en route. This airport has a single terminal for both domestic and international.
4. Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (HYD) – Hyderabad
The Rajiv Gandhi International Airport opened in 2008, is an international airport serving Hyderabad, India. The airport is formerly known as Begumpet Airport but later its name changed in honor of our former prime minister. The Rajiv Gandhi International Airport terminal building has a total floor area and a designed capacity to handle millions of passengers per annum.
Currently, more than 13 million passengers use it every year which makes it one of the busiest airports in India. However, a new runway is being constructed for supporting next-generation larger aircraft such as Boeing 777 or Airbus A380. The Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is 4th busiest airports in India
5. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU) – Kolkata
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport is an international airport located at Dum Dum, Kolkata, West Bengal. The airport opened during British rule and it is previously known as Calcutta Airport or Dum Dum Airport but later it was named after freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. The airport serves as a hub for domestic and international civilian flights and cargo operations from Eastern India.
As per statistics, it handles approximately a total number of passengers estimated to be around 15 million annually; it becomes one of the busiest airports in India offering worldwide connectivity to over 50 major cities including Singapore, Bangkok, Muscat, Doha, and Dubai amongst others.
6. Chennai International Airport (MAA) – Chennai
With over 25 million passengers passing through it in 2013, Chennai International Airport (MAA) is one of the busiest airports in India. Chennai International Airport is located at Meenambakkam, which is situated approximately 14 kilometers from Chennai city. The airport was previously known as Madras International Airport, opened in 1932.
It serves as a hub for domestic and international flights for Chennai and South India. It currently has three terminals: Terminal 1 is used for domestic airlines; Terminal 3 is used for international arrivals; Terminal 4 is used for international departures. These 4 Terminal makes it one of the largest airports in India.
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7. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (AMD) – Ahmedabad
Opened on 26 January 1991, located in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport is often considered one of the top busiest airports in India. This airport was named after Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, former Deputy Prime Minister of India. Spread over an area of 4.55 km, it has a single runway extending up to 3,505 meters and it can handle around 12 million passengers annually and also about 150 flights per day.
The airport is approximately 12 kilometers away from the city center of Ahmedabad and is connected with various parts across Gujarat by roadways and airways bus services. It handles domestic as well as international flights which connect Ahmedabad with different parts across the country including Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, etc.
8. Dabolim International Airport (GOI) – Goa
Dabolim International Airport (GOI) is located in Goa, approximately 5.2 kilometers from Vasco da Gama. It handles domestic and international flights and was the busiest airport in India by traffic movement. During peak season, there are many flights to Dabolim every day from locations throughout India such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Hyderabad; from these same cities during off-peak times, there are also a few flights per week operated by full-service carriers such as Kingfisher Airlines (India), Jet Airways and British Airways. It is jointly owned by the Government of India and the Government of Goa.
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9. Jai Prakash Narayan International Airport (PAT) – Patna
Considered one of the largest airports in Bihar and also the busiest airport in India, Jai Prakash Narayan International Airport is spread over an area of 254 acres. Patna airport is offering domestic services like Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi, and many more. Serving as a base for domestic airlines, including Air India and Jet Airways, Jai Prakash Narayan International Airport (PAT) has handled more than 13 million passengers every year. The airport’s IATA code is PAT and it has runways that measure 1,938 meters and 1,677 meters long.
10. Cochin International Airport (C-OK) – Kochi
The Cochin International Airport (C-OK) is one of India’s largest airports which is situated at Nedumbassery, on the outskirts of Kochi is a significant gateway to south India. The Cochin International airport caters to flights every day with a mix of both domestic and international destinations and is operated by Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL). CIAL has three terminals and that helps it ranks among the top busiest airports in India.
The airport can handle over 2400 passengers within an hour make it one of the busiest airports in India. Regular flights are available to most major cities across India and abroad. Also, 3 nearby international airports provide seamless connectivity to global travelers. Cochin International Airport is the biggest airport in South India.
Conclusion
The following are not only major airports but also hubs, which means they are connected to multiple destinations. They include New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, and Hyderabad. Every airport listed above serves thousands of domestic and international passengers each day. As you can see, there are many things to consider when choosing which airport to land your plane. While it is impossible to pick a single best airport, we hope this article will help you on your upcoming travel.
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