After the United States and China, India has the world’s third-largest domestic civil aviation market. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is in charge of 125 of the 449 airports in the country. We shall talk about top 10 international airports in India.
1. Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL), New Delhi
According to a preliminary world traffic report that Airports Council International published in March 2019, Indira Gandhi International Airport was listed as the busiest airport in India and the 12th busiest airport in the entire globe. In Palam, located around fifteen kilometres to the southwest of the New Delhi rail station, you will discover the International Airport. There are three terminals, with Terminal 3 being the largest in South Asia and India. Road, rail, and metro connections are all in good shape between the city and the airport.
2. Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (BOM), Mumbai
The principal airport providing service to the Mumbai Metropolitan Area is Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. It is India’s second busiest airport, behind Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. The primary international terminal at the airport is located in Terminal 2, one of the two terminals. The airport is 8 km north of Mumbai’s city center in the Andheri neighborhood. It has excellent train, metro, and road connections to the city.
3. Kempegowda International Airport (BLR), Bengaluru
Devanahalli is home to Kempegowda International Airport, 40 kilometers north of Bangalore’s downtown. As the third busiest airport in India, it ranks second in the southern region and second in the country overall, behind only Chennai International Airport. Scattered across 150,000 square meters, the airport comprises a single terminal. The city and the airport have good rail and road connections.
4. Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (HYD), Hyderabad
Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is in Shamshabad, 24 km south of Hyderabad city center. It is the sixth-busiest airport in India and the second-busiest airport in South India after Chennai International Airport. The airport has a single terminal spread over 105,300 square meters. The airport is well-connected to the city by road and rail.
5. Chennai International Airport (MAA), Chennai
Chennai International Airport is located in Tirusulam, 21 km south of Chennai city center. It is the fourth-busiest airport in India and the third-busiest airport in South India after Kempegowda International Airport and Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. There are two terminals at the airport: Terminal 2 houses the international terminal, while Terminal 1 houses the domestic terminal. The city and the airport have good rail and road connections.
6. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU), Kolkata
Dum Dum is home to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, 17 km northeast of Kolkata’s downtown. After Biju Patnaik International Airport and Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, it is the third busiest airport in East India and the fifth busiest airport in all of India. The airport has two terminals; Terminal 2 houses the international terminal. There are good train and road links between the airport and the city.
7. Cochin International Airport (COK), Kochi
Cochin International Airport is located in Nedumbassery, 28 km northeast of Kochi’s city center. It is the seventh-busiest airport in India and the fourth-busiest airport in South India after Kempegowda International Airport, Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, and Chennai International Airport. The airport has a single terminal spread over 140,000 square meters. The airport is well-connected to the city by road and rail.
8. Goa International Airport (GOI), Dabolim
Goa International Airport is located in Dabolim, 4 km southwest of Vasco da Gama. It is the eighth-busiest airport in India and the second-busiest airport in West India after Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. The airport has a single terminal spread over 23,000 square meters. The airport is well-connected to the city by road and rail.
9. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (AMD), Ahmedabad
The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport lies nine kilometers north of the Ahmedabad city center in Hansol. It bears the name of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who served as India’s first deputy prime minister. After Surat International Airport, the airport is the second busiest in Gujarat and the ninth most active in India. The airport’s 41,000 square meter single terminal is located there. The terminal features eight security lanes, sixteen immigration desks, and thirty-two check-in counters. It can accommodate 1,200 people at a time. A freight terminal at the airport can accommodate 500,000 metric tons of cargo a year.
10. Pune International Airport (PNQ), Pune
It serves the city of Pune in Maharashtra, India, as an international airport and an Indian Air Force base. It is in Lohegaon, about 11 km (6.8 mi) northeast of Pune’s ancient center. The Airports Authority of India runs the airport, a public area on the western side of the Indian Air Force Station Lohegaon. Regarding the number of passengers, the airport is India’s tenth largest. Over 8 million people used the airport in the fiscal year 2020. The runway at the airport is 2,540 m long and faces 10/28. What used to be a backup runway is now a taxiway for the IAF. AAI built a companion taxiway 2200m long and 23m wide to make civil operations easier on the southern side of runway 10/28.
FAQ’s
1. What are the criteria for ranking the top international airports in India?
The ranking considers passenger traffic, facilities, services, and overall passenger experience.
2. Which is the No. 1 international airport in India?
The Delhi airport has consecutively been awarded as the best airport in India (along with Mumbai’s international airport) by the revered Airports Council International. The Delhi airport is also a favorite for its many stores of global brands and a wide array of restaurants.
3. Which is the No. 3 airport in India?
Chennai International Airport is currently the third-largest airport in India after Mumbai and Delhi. Apart from this, there are domestic airports in Tuticorin, Salem, and Pondicherry.
4. Are these airports well-connected to major international destinations?
The top-ranked airports have extensive international flight networks, connecting India to key destinations worldwide.
5. Do these airports prioritize security and safety measures?
Absolutely; all top international airports adhere to strict security protocols and prioritize passenger safety through advanced security systems.
6. Are there dedicated terminals for domestic and international flights at these airports?
Most top international airports have separate domestic and international flight terminals to streamline operations and enhance passenger convenience.
7. How do these airports contribute to India’s economic growth?
These airports serve as crucial gateways for international trade and tourism, vital in boosting India’s economic activities and global connectivity.
India’s top 10 international airports are pivotal in connecting the country to the rest of the world with efficiency and modern amenities. These gateways showcase India’s commitment to providing world-class infrastructure and contribute significantly to the country’s economic growth and global connectivity. As hubs of international travel, these airports are crucial nodes facilitating business, tourism, and cultural exchange. The ongoing endeavors to augment amenities, increase services, and elevate passenger encounters demonstrate India’s resolve to sustain its leadership position in the worldwide aviation domain.
