Top 15 Busiest Airports In India

There are 487 airports or airstrips in India: 34 International, 103 domestic, and 10 customs airports. The AAI, or Airport Authority of India, manages all 137 airports. This vast transportation network effectively serves civilians and tourists who visit India from different locations worldwide. These airports contribute significantly to the Indian economy because they manage millions of people and have become a major epicenter for making a global connection globally and in major cities worldwide. In this article, we will discuss which airport in India serves the most passengers, so let's look at the busiest airports in India.

List of Top 15 Busiest Airports In India:

1. Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL)
2. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM)
3. Kempegowda International Airport (BLR)
4. Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (HYD)
5. Chennai International Airport (MAA)
6. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU)
7. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (AMD)
8. Cochin International Airport (COK)
9. Pune Airport (PNQ)
10. Dabolim International Airport (GOI)
11. Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport (LKO)
12. Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (GAU)
13. Jaipur International Airport (JAI)
14. Biju Patnaik International Airport (BBI)
15. Manohar International Airport (GOX)

1. Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi

Indira Gandhi International Airport opened its gates to the public in 1962 and serves the capital of India, New Delhi, and the National Capital Region, or NCR. According to last year's report, the airport is spread over 5,106 acres and has handled over 73 million passengers. It is a hub for major Indian airlines such as Air India, Alliance Air, FedEx Express, and Quikjet Airlines. The number of passengers it handles made it one of the top ten busiest airports in the world. Indira Gandhi International Airport has three Terminals. Terminals 1 and 2 are used for domestic route operations, while Terminal 3 is used for both domestic and international routes. The day Terminal Three was ready for operations, the airport became the largest aviation hub in India and South Asia, handling approximately 34 million passengers.

2. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport is the second busiest airport in India based on the total traffic of passengers, including domestic and international tourists. The airport opened its gate to the public in 1942, and it is a major airport that connects India to the world, as it operates flights to all six populated continents. The operators of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport are Mumbai International Airport Limited, along with Adani Enterprises and the Airports Authority of India. The airport is a hub for airlines such as Air India, Blue Dart Aviation, and FedEx Express. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport serves its passengers with two terminals divided into different levels. Terminal One is used for domestic operations and has three levels: 1A, 1B, & 1C, while Terminal 2 has four levels: Level 1, 2, 3, and 4. Domestic operations are handled by Terminals 1A and 1B and by the new Terminals 1C and Terminal T2. Terminals 2B and 2C handle the international operations.

3. Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru

Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru is the third busiest airport in India, and it serves the Silicon Valley of India, Bangalore or Bengaluru. The airport was opened to the public in 2008 as an alternative to HAL Airport, and it was the first ever fully solar-powered airport in Karnataka; the airport is the hub for airlines such as Air India, Alliance Air, DHL Aviation, FedEx Express, and Star Air. The airport offers connecting flights to six continents and direct flights to five continents. The connectivity it offers for the passengers is handled by two terminals dedicated to the passengers, which handle both domestic and international operations. Three terminals are dedicated to cargo operations and can also be used as a facility for the storage of cargo.

4. Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad

Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is a public airport and is the largest airport in India by area. It serves the Hyderabad Metropolitan region. It is built over 5,500 acres of land, and the Hyderabad International Airport Limited owns it. To replace the Begumpet Airport, which was the airport that served Hyderabad, Rajiv Gandhi International Airport was opened in 2008. India's fourth busiest airport serves over 25 million passengers and over 150,000 tonnes of cargo per year, and the airport is the hub for Alliance Air, IndiGo, Amazon Air, SpiceJet, Blue Dart Aviation, and Star Air. The airport also features aviation training facilities, a solar plant, a fuel farm, and two maintenance and repair facilities. Rajiv Gandhi International Airport has only a single terminal, and this single Terminal handles both operations of domestic and international routes. For International flights, the western side of the Terminal serves while the eastern side handles the domestic operations. The cargo terminal, which is also used for storage, is located on the west side of the passenger terminal.

5. Chennai International Airport, Chennai

Chennai International is the fifth-busiest public airport in India based on the traffic of passengers and the busiest based on the cargo handled in India and international traffic. It opened its gates to the public in 1930. In the last financial year, the airport managed and served over 17 million passengers, and this traffic is expected to grow to 40 million by 2035. To supplement this, a new greenfield airport is being processed. The airport is the central hub for Blue Dart Aviation and an operating base for IndiGo Airlines. Chennai International Airport handles its passenger traffic with three dedicated terminals for the passengers. Terminals 1 and 4 handle the domestic flight operations, while Terminal 2 deals with the international operations. For cargo operations, the old passenger terminal is used, and the plan is to build an integrated terminal for handling the cargo to expand the cargo handling capacity.

6. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata

After the Independence, the airport was renamed in 1995 from Calcutta Aerodrome to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport. The first opened in 1924 for the public and is the oldest Indian airport. It is a hub for Alliance Air and the operating base for AIX Connect, Air India Express, IndiGo, and SpiceJet. The airport was built at 6.64 square kilometers and has served over 20 million passengers in the last financial year. The traffic it previously had in the previous financial year makes it one of the busiest airlines in India.  Originally, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport had three terminals, but old international and domestic terminals were closed after the new integrated Terminal opened. The new integrated Terminal, Terminal 2, can handle over 25 million passengers and is divided into six different levels.

7. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport handled over 11 million passengers, which makes it the seventh-busiest airport in India based on the traffic of passengers. The airport is a public type airport and the primary hub for prominent Indian airlines such as  Air India, SpiceJet, and Go Air, as well as the operating base for IndiGo. It also features a statue of Sardar Patel and rooftop solar panels. Dholera International is under development. It will soon be open because of the expansion constraint at the Sardar Vallabhai Patel International Airport. As of now, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport has four terminals, including domestic and international, and an additional terminal dedicated to secondary operations and cargo terminals. Terminal 1 has 32 check-in counters and handles domestic operations, while Terminal 2 also has 32 check-in counters and is used for International operations. There is also a dedicated cargo terminal, which was expected to be at Terminal 3.

8. Cochin International Airport, Kochi

Cochin International Airport, more popularly known as Kochi International Airport, is the eighth busiest Airport in India and is located in Nedumbassery near Kochi, Kerala. Based on the passengers, it is the busiest and the largest airport in the state and the fourth airport for International Passengers. Cochin International is the world's first ever fully solar-powered airport, which was developed under a public-private partnership and established a reliable solar plant. The airport has also won awards, such as the Best Airport in Asia-Pacific and the Champion of the Earth award. Cochin International Airport has three terminals dedicated to passenger operations and one Terminal for cargo operations. Terminal 1 was formerly the International Terminal, but later, its operations were transferred to Terminal 3, and after a renovation, Terminal 1 was dedicated to domestic operations. Terminal 2 became the executive Terminal, which is focused on personalized services, and Terminal 3 was dedicated to International operations.

9. Pune Airport, Pune

Pune Airport is a public and military facility located approximately 11 kilometers northeast of Pune's historic center in Lohegaon and serves both domestic and international destinations and the Indian Air Force. Pune Airport is the hub for IndiGo, and, in total, seven airlines operate with their flights from Pune Airport, including Air India, Indian Airlines SpiceJet, Shuttle America, and Air India Express, and handle over 9.5 million passengers. The gates of the Pune Airport were opened first in 1939 for the public. Pune International Airport has two terminals. The second Terminal, which is twice the size of the current Terminal, was constructed on the east side of the current Terminal, and this expansion helped manage the peak-time pressure of the passenger traffic. The Terminal, which is dedicated to the new second Terminal, is next to the new integrated second Terminal.

10. Dabolim International Airport, Goa

Dabolim Airport is a public military airport that serves Panaji, and it was opened first in 1955 by Portugues India. It was established and centralized as TAIP's central hub. In 1961, it was bombed by the Indian Air Force, and just next year, in 1962, the Indian Navy took control of it. A new airport, Mopa, was planned, and the construction was completed in December 2022; it was made because of the capacity constraint at the terminals due to the Military and Naval presence. Initially, Dabolim International Airport had two terminals, but the old terminal building was shut down after a new building was constructed. The new integrated terminal building currently handles operations for both domestic and international routes and passengers. Currently, the base terminal serves to handle the cargo, but the future plan is to construct a dedicated terminal for cargo; after that, the current cargo terminal will be dedicated to catering to domestic and international operations.

11. Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport, Lucknow

The airport was established in 1986 and later upgraded because of the increasing demand; later, it was renamed in 2008 and expanded its Terminal 2 in 2012 when it gained International status. The construction of Terminal 3 began in 2018, but it was delayed due to the pandemic. Later, it was inaugurated in March 2024 by Prime Minister Modi. Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport is managed and operated by the Airport Authority of India and the Adani Group. Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport has three Terminals. Terminal 1 currently handles international operations, and Terminal 2 was constructed with the purpose of serving international flights as well, but due to high demand, it is being used for domestic operations. There is also a new Terminal, Terminal 3, which is used for both domestic and international operations.

12. Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Guwahati

Lokpriya Gopinath Bodoloi International Airport is public and military, and it was established in 1958 and serves Guwahati. For regional development, it has gone through multiple expansions and the passenger traffic and aircraft movement experienced significant growth from 2017 to 2018. The airport operated flights to international destinations such as Bangkok in 2002, and between 2019 and 2021, it began international flights to Dhaka, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, and Yangon. Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport currently has one Terminal, which is used for both domestic and International operations, and it is divided into three floors. The ground floor is dedicated to arrivals, the middle one is the boarding area, and the third floor is dedicated to departures. Soon, Terminal 2 will be opened with the same features as the current one.

13. Jaipur International Airport, Jaipur

Jaipur International Airport is a public airport that got its international title in December 2005. The airport features two terminals. Terminal One was for international flights, which now serves for cargo operations. Whereas terminal two is now reserved for international flights in July 2012. An expansion plan is in the works, which features the widening of Terminal Two on each side and adding a new departure hall, three conveyor belts, and two aerobridges. The airport can accommodate 14 aircraft, and the new terminal building can handle up to 1000 passengers. Jaipur International Airport currently has two terminals: Terminal 1 being used for cargo operations but later being opened for international operations, while Terminal 2 is the new terminal building dedicated to domestic operations.

14. Biju Patnaik International Airport, Odisha

Biju Patnaik International Airport is the first-ever commercial airport in Odisha, which opened its gate to the public in 1962. The airport has two terminals, one for domestic and the other for international flights. The inauguration of Terminal One helped it cost around ₹1.45 billion, but now it can handle over 4 million passengers. The airport features four aerobridges, 18 check-in counters, and various other amenities. Currently, Biju Patnaik International Airport has two active Terminals where. Terminal 1 handled the domestic flight operations, and Terminal 2 was dedicated to international operations, although, in the beginning, it was opened to serve domestic operations. The cargo terminal of Biju Patnaik International Airport is over 26,000 metric tonnes, which makes it one of the major Air Cargo Hubs in east India.

15. Manohar International Airport, Goa

The second Goan Airport was opened in January 2023, and the credit for the development of Manohar International Airport goes to GMR Goa International Airport Limited. The total cost of the development is ₹3,000 crores, and it handled over 4 million passengers in the last financial year, which was near its full capacity of 4.5 million. The traffic it manages is what gives it a rank among the top busiest airports in India.  Manohar International Airport has a single Integrated terminal that is used for both domestic and international operations. For cargo operations, the development and expansion of a dedicated cargo terminal will be completed in several phases so that the cargo capacity of the airport can be increased.

FAQ Questions on Top Busiest Airports in India

Q. Which is the busiest airport in India?

A. Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport is the busiest airport in India, followed by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Kempegowda International Airport, and so on.

Q. How many passengers travel through Indian airports annually?

A. In the last financial year, over 375 million passengers travelled through Indian Airports, and Delhi's IGI Airport is one of the top airports in India by passenger traffic.

Q. What are the top 5 busiest airports in India?

A. Here are the top 5 busiest airport rankings in India:

• Delhi (DEL)
• Mumbai (BOM)
• Bangalore (BLR)
• Kolkata (CCU)
• Chennai (MAA)

Q. What is the rank of Delhi and Mumbai airports in global rankings?

A. Delhi airport is ranked 24th globally, while Mumbai is 44th. Both are the busiest air hubs in India and handle a large number of passengers every day.

Q. Which airport in India handles the most domestic flights?

A. Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport is the busiest in India and handles the most domestic flights, making it the busiest domestic airports in India.

Q. How is airport traffic measured in India?

A. Airport traffic is measured by various factors, including Indian airport passenger statistics, aircraft movements, and the total amount of cargo handled.

Q. Which is the fastest-growing airport in India?

A. Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is considered the fastest-growing airport in India because of its complex infrastructure, economic growth, and strategic location. Besides its rapid growth, it is also India’s largest airports.

Q. Which Indian airport has the best facilities for travellers?

A. Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport is constantly ranked as the best Indian Airport and offers the best facilities for passengers.

Q. How do Indian airports manage high passenger traffic?

A. As with any other nation, Indian airport manages its high passenger traffic by expanding its infrastructure, adopting modern technology, and prioritizing the customer experience.

Q. Which city has the second busiest airport in India?

A. Mumbai with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport is the second-busiest or the second-most crowded airports in India.

Q. Which Indian airport has won awards for efficiency and service?

A. Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport and Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport have won awards for their efficiency and services.

Q. Which Indian airport handles the most international flights?

A. Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, India's primary international gateway, and thus, IGI is a major international airports in India.

Q. Which is the busiest domestic airport in India?

A. Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport manages most domestic flights in India. In the last financial year, it handled over 54 million domestic passengers. Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport is a Major airports in India by passenger traffic.

Q. What are the major international airports in India?

A. Indira Gandhi International Airport, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Kempegowda International Airport, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, and Chennai International Airport are India’s busiest international airports, and they are responsible for most flights on both domestic and international routes.

Q. What is the passenger capacity of Indira Gandhi International Airport?

A. Based on the seating capacity, Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport has a seating capacity of over 3.6 million passengers. In contrast, with its three terminals, it has a total capacity of 73.67 million passengers annually. As of now, with its three terminals, T1, T2, and T3, Indira Gandhi International Airport holds the ability to handle about 100 million passengers annually.

Q. Which airport in India has the highest cargo traffic?

A. Indira Gandhi International Airport of Delhi has been at the top for being the busiest Indian airport in managing passenger and cargo traffic. Annually, it handles and manages the cargo of over one million metric tons, which makes it India's largest cargo managing airport.

Q. Are India’s busiest airports well-connected by public transport?

A. The most prominent airports in India, such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and more, are well connected by public transport and have a dedicated metro link. Taxis and other transportation options are always available; thus, all the top 15 airports in India are well-connected with public transport.

Q. Which busiest airport in India has the best lounges?

A. Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, the busiest airport in India, has some of the most luxurious lounges and restaurants in the country. These are known for offering a high-end experience and a wide variety of food and beverage options.