10 Busiest Indian Airports and Some Facts About Them

The Indian aviation industry is growing by leaps and bounds. It is already one of the largest domestic civil aviation markets. India has over 130 operational commercial airports. Do you know which ones are the busiest?

Here you will find the ten busiest airports in the country:

1. Indira Gandhi International Airport

Location: New Delhi

Air Passengers: 48,496,440

Aircraft Movement: ‎320,690

Cargo: 963,035 tons

Also, Indira Gandhi International Airport is both the busiest in terms of passenger, as well as cargo movement. So, if you book flights to India from the USA or any other location, it is most likely to land at the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

Some Key Facts

1. It has the busiest Airbus A320 Traffic in the world.
2. The airport has one of the biggest terminals in the world.
3. Moreover, it is the biggest airport in the country.
4. Indira Gandhi International Airport is Asia’s busiest airport by passenger traffic.
5. Also, it is technologically the most advanced Indian airport.
6. The CAT III-B ILS (Instrument landing system) enables planes to land safely, even in poor visibility.
7. A-CDM (Airport Collaborative Decision Making) system looks after the timely landing and take-offs.

2. Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport

Location: Mumbai

Air Passengers: 49,806,430

Aircraft Movement: 320,690

Cargo: 906,320 tons

Formerly known as the Sahar International Airport, Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport was renamed in 1999. And, the airport has two terminals. A 15-minute drive geographically separates them.

Also, due to the busy operations, one of the runways has been upgraded to Code F. It means that it well-equipped to handle larger aircraft, such as Airbus A380.

Some Key Facts

1. It is the second busiest Indian airport in terms of both, cargo and traveler movement.
2. In 2017, The Mumbai airport surpassed London’s Gatwick Airport as the world’s busiest airport with a single operational runway.

The airport has won several awards.

• Airport Service Quality Awards named it World’s Best Airport in 2017
• In 2016, Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport won the “Best Airport in India and Central Asia at the Skytrax Awards.
• However, another reason for the airport’s recognition is cheap India ticket deals and other promotional offers to the Mumbai Airport.

3. Kempegowda International Airport

Location: Bengaluru

Air Passengers: 26,910,430

Aircraft Movement: 196,560

Cargo: 348,405 tons

A public-private consortium operates Kempegowda International Airport. Also, it is called BIAL or Bengaluru International Airport Limited. The airport serves as a hub for prominent airlines, such as IndiGo, AirAsia India, and Alliance Air.

Currently, the airport consists of one terminal and one runway. On the other hand, it has three cargo terminals and even a cargo village.

Some Key Facts

1.      It is the third busiest Indian airport in terms of passengers.
2.      29th busiest airport in Asia.
3.      In 2017, the airport handled 600 aircraft per day.

4. Chennai International Airport

Location: Tirusulam, Chennai

Air Passengers: 22,531,482

Aircraft Movement: 155,130

Cargo: 417,790 Tons

Chennai International Airport is one of India’s oldest airports. Also, in the year 2001, the airport became the first Indian international airport to receive ISO 9001-2000 certification. It validates an airport’s customer satisfaction standards.

Chennai has excellent medical infrastructure and facilities. Hence, it experiences the country’s highest inflow of international passengers traveling for medical purposes.

Therefore, you are more likely to get affordable India ticket deals to Chennai, especially while traveling for medical reasons.

Some Key Facts

1. It is the third busiest in India in terms of international traffic.
2. The Airport also has amongst the nation’s largest cargo capacity.
3. It only falls behind New Delhi and Mumbai.
4. Two new terminals are under construction to cater to the increasing air passenger traffic.
5. One of the terminals is going to be a satellite terminal.
6. Once completed, it will be the first of its kind in India.

5. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport

Location: Kolkata

Air Passengers: 21,877,530

Aircraft Movement: 148,800

Cargo: 163,325 tons

Netaji Subhas Chandra International Airport has two runways. They handle traffic of up to 35 and 15 flights per hour respectively.

There is another international airport in the City called Bagdogra. However, the former remains the primary center for flights to Bhutan, China, and Southeast Asia.

Some Key Facts

1. It is the largest hub for air operations in Eastern India.
2. In terms of air passengers, it is India’s fifth busiest airport.
3. ACI (Airport Council International) honored the Kolkata Airport with the title of Best Improved Airport in the years 2014 and 2015.

6. Rajiv Gandhi International Airport

Location: Hyderabad

Air Passengers: 21,403,970

Aircraft Movement: ‎‎149,580

Cargo: 134,140tons

The Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is has a single passenger terminal and a single cargo terminal. Also, there is an aviation training facility within the airport. Moreover, there is a fuel farm, 2 MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) facilities, and a solar power plant.

Some Key Facts

1. Based upon the air travelers, it is the sixth busiest airport in India.
2. Also, it is estimated that the annual inflow of passengers will increase to 80 million in the coming 3 to 4 years.
3. For smooth and swift operations, the airport authority has installed 19 self-check-in kiosks.
4. Besides, there are 96 check-in counters and 46 immigration counters

7. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport

Location: Ahmedabad

Air Passengers: 11,172,470

Aircraft Movement: 78,410

Cargo: 91,530tons

The airport’s location serves the twin city of Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. The airport has four terminals. It includes domestic, international, a second terminal for additional traffic, and a cargo terminal.

Some Key Facts

1. The Ahmedabad Airport is the seventh busiest Indian Airport as per the number of air passengers.
2. A new project called Dholera International Airport is under development.
3. It is a result of growing traffic at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, and its expansion constraints.
4. ACI awarded the airport the title of ‘Most Improved Airport’ in the year 2017.
5. The airport also bagged 3 International Airport Service Quality (ASQ) awards in 2018.

8. Cochin International Airport

Location: Kochi

Air Passengers: 10,119,825

Aircraft Movement: 68,770

Cargo: 90445tons

The Cochin International airport handles 61% of the air movement in Kerala. Hence, it is the busiest airport within the state. Also, the airport has three terminals for passengers and one for cargo.

Furthermore, the terminal 3 of the Cochin airport is amongst India’s largest terminals.

Some Key Facts

1. The Cochin International Airport ranks 8th in India in the overall passenger traffic.
2. However, it is India’s fourth busiest airport in terms of international traffic.
3. It is India’s first airport to be developed under public-private consortium.
4. Nearly 30,000 non-resident Indians across 30 countries contributed funds.

9. Pune International Airport

Location: Pune

Air Passengers: 9,070,920

Aircraft Movement: 56,021

Cargo: 41,566tons

The Pune International Airport caters to air passengers through a single terminal. Moreover, it contains 26 check-in counters and two aerobridges.

Owing to the busy operations, construction of a runway and a new terminal is underway. Upon completion, the airport will be equipped to handle larger aircraft.

Some Key Facts

1. Based on air passengers, the Pune International Airport is the ninth busiest airport in India.
2. The Airport is a civil enclave
3. It means that the air facility serves military and civil aviation operations

10. Dabolim Airport

Location: Goa

Air Passengers: 8,467,326

Aircraft Movement: 

Cargo: 41,566tons

The Dabolim Airport spreads across an area of 1700 acres. The terminal building is integrated and handles both domestic as well as international flights. Moreover, it houses eight aerobridges.

Some Key Facts

1. The tenth busiest Indian airport is Goa’s Dabolim Airport.
2. Moreover, just like Pune Airport, Dabolim’s air facility is a civil enclave.
3. Also, the airport has an active military and naval movement.
4. Capacity constraints of the airport lead to the additional airport plan. The new airport is already in the early stages of construction.

These airports are not just the busiest, but also amongst the best in the country. Therefore, consider those mentioned above before booking airline tickets to India.

Being a developing nation, and a flourishing tourist destination, the odds of scoring cheap flight ticket deals to India is in your favor.