India boasts some of the world’s busiest airports, and the fiscal year 2024 has witnessed a remarkable surge in air travel. A staggering 376.4 million passengers used Indian airports during this period, reflecting a 15 percent increase from the previous year and a 10 percent rise compared to pre-COVID levels. These airports are not only major gateways to the country but also pivotal hubs for both domestic and international travel. Here, we explore the top 10 busiest airports in India, their significance, and the impressive passenger traffic they handle.
Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi
Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) serves New Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). It has been the busiest airport in India for passenger and cargo traffic since 2009. In FY 2023-24, it handled 73,673,708 passengers, a 12.8% increase from the previous year. Globally, IGI ranks as the tenth busiest airport by passenger numbers and the second busiest by seating capacity. The airport features significant infrastructure, including the large Terminal 3 and a 4,430-meter runway. To manage the increasing traffic, a second airport, Noida International Airport, is under construction.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, operated by Mumbai International Airport Limited—a joint venture between Adani Enterprises and the Airports Authority of India—handled 52,820,754 passengers in FY 2023-24, marking a 20.2% increase from the previous year. This airport offers flights to all six inhabited continents. Originally named Sahar Airport, it was renamed in 1999 in honor of the 17th-century Maratha ruler, Shivaji Maharaj. Located in Santacruz and Sahar Village in Vile Parle East, it is a key gateway to India.
Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru
Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru is the third busiest airport in India, handling 37,528,533 passengers in FY 2023-24, an increase of 17.6%. Opened in May 2008 to ease congestion at the HAL Airport, it is named after Bangalore’s founder, Kempe Gowda I. The airport, Karnataka’s first fully solar-powered facility, features two passenger terminals, two runways, a cargo village, and three cargo terminals. It also offers flights to all six inhabited continents.
Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad
Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad, Telangana, is the fourth busiest airport in India, serving 25,042,282 passengers in FY 2023-24, a 19.3% increase from the previous year. Opened in 2008 to replace Begumpet Airport, it is the largest airport in India by area, covering 5,500 acres. It was the first airport in India to offer domestic and international e-boarding. The airport serves as a hub for Alliance Air, Amazon Air, and IndiGo.
Chennai International Airport, Chennai
Chennai International Airport, located about 21 km southwest of the city center, handled 21,207,262 passengers in FY 2023-24, reflecting a 14.2% increase. It is the fifth busiest airport in India for passenger traffic and aircraft movements and the third busiest for international traffic. The airport handled over 17 million passengers and 0.34 million tonnes of cargo in the past year. With capacity expected to peak at 40 million passengers by 2035, plans for a new greenfield airport are in place.
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, renamed in 1995 after the Indian independence leader Subhas Chandra Bose, is one of India’s oldest airports, opened in 1924. It serves as the main hub for eastern and northeastern India. In FY 2023-24, the airport accommodated 19,784,417 passengers, an 11.3% increase from the previous year, making it the sixth busiest airport in India. The airport covers 6.64 square kilometers.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedaba
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport is Gujarat’s busiest and largest airport, serving 11,696,227 passengers in FY 2023-24, a 15.4% increase. Established in 1937, the airport began international operations in 1991 and features a statue of Sardar Patel and a rooftop solar plant. Due to space constraints, a new airport, Dholera International, is under development.
Cochin International Airport, Kochi
Cochin International Airport, located in Nedumbassery near Kochi, Kerala, is the busiest and largest airport in the state and the fourth busiest for international passengers in India. In FY 2023-24, the airport handled 10,365,655 passengers, a 17.6% increase. Known for being the world’s first fully solar-powered airport, it serves 31 international and 22 domestic destinations with three passenger terminals and one cargo terminal. The airport has been awarded the Champion of the Earth title and named ‘Best Airport’ in Asia-Pacific for its size category.
Pune Airport, Pune
Pune Airport, or Pune International Airport, located approximately 11 kilometers northeast of Pune’s historic center in Lohegaon, serves both domestic and international destinations and functions as an Indian Air Force base. It handled 9,525,484 passengers in FY 2023-24, reflecting a 19% increase, making it the ninth busiest airport in India.
Dabolim Airport, Goa
Dabolim Airport serves Panaji, the capital of Goa. Located on an Indian Navy base called INS Hansa, it is situated 4 km from Vasco da Gama and about 30 km from Panaji. In FY 2022-23, the airport handled around 8.5 million passengers annually. However, passenger traffic declined to 6,872,411 in FY 2023-24, a 17.8% decrease, due to the opening of Mopa Airport, located approximately 60 kilometers away, in January 2023.
These airports serve as crucial hubs for domestic and international travel, with state-of-the-art facilities and expanding infrastructures to accommodate the increasing demand.
