Indian aviation has grown by leaps and bounds in the past few years, with India becoming one of the largest civil aviation markets in the world. More than 120 million flyers book domestic flight tickets every year. The number inflates to over 180 million when you add to it travellers flying on international routes. Catering to these flyers are world-class airports that are ranked among the best and the busiest in the world. Take a look at the busiest airports in India.
Serving NCR or National Capital Region, Indira Gandhi International Airport isnât just the busiest airport in India but also ranks 12th among the busiest airports in the world. In the year 2018, the aviation hub catered to more than 69 million people, besting airports in Singapore, Dallas/Fort-Worth and Guangzhou. The airport is functioning with three runways, out of which one is the longest runway in the country, stretching 4430 feet. The IGI Airport has three terminals. Moreover, the airport is also accredited as the largest airport in India.
Serving about 50 million passengers every year, Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport makes it to the second spot on the list of busiest airports in India. It was recently named the best airport for Customer Experience in Asia-Pacific with more than 40 million passengers by Airports Council International, edging out the likes of Shanghai Pudong International Airport and the world-famous Singapore Changi Airport. Among the newest transformations, the airport opened the Jaya He GVK New Museum at the T2 terminal. This museum has over 5000 exhibits showcasing the history of airports in India.
The capital of Karnataka, Bangalore, is thronged by businesspersons and tourists alike. Thus, there is no surprise that Kempegowda International, which serves the city, is among the busiest airports in India. More than 33 million people book flight tickets to or from Kempegowda International Airport in the financial year 2018-2019. It also caters to the worldâs largest airliner, the mammoth Airbus A380. The airport is also undergoing a development programme to expand its capacity. The airport has direct connectivity to Bangalore via NH 44.
Chennai International Airport is the fourth busiest international airport in India. It is counted among the earliest domestic airports in India. The airport hosts flights from almost all major Indian cities, including New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Guwahati, Ahmedabad and Bangalore. Colombo, Bangkok, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, and Abu Dhabi are among the international cities connect to Chennai through flights. The Chennai Airport handled almost 20 million flyers in the year 2017. To offer connectivity to the main city centre, the airport has its own station on the Chennai Metro network.
The largest airport in Indiaâs eastern parts of the country, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, serves the state of Kolkata. Handling about 20 million passengers in the financial year 2017-2018, it is the fifth busiest national airport in India. It won the Best Improved Airport Award by Airport Council International for two straight years in 2014 and 2015. Loads of people heading to Northeast India also book cheap flight tickets to Kolkata.
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Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, which serves Hyderabad, is the next name on our list of busiest airports in India. The city of Hyderabad is frequented by businesspersons for its strong information technology scene and by tourists for its rich cultural heritage. A total of more than 18 million people arrived or departed from the Hyderabad airport in the FY2017-2018. A unique feature of the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is that the airport village located outside the arrivals area, where transit travellers can meet their relatives and friends during their layover. The airport is also undergoing development and will soon have a capacity of 40 million passengers per year to meet the growing demand for flight tickets to Hyderabad.
Cochin International Airport is located in Cochin or Kochi in the state of Kerala. It was the first airport in India developed as per the PPP or public-private partnership model, with funding coming from over 10000 non-resident Indians from about 30 countries. Although the state of Kerala has four international airports, Cochin International Airport continues to be in high demand and remains one of the busiest airports in India. It is the first airport in India to be completely powered by solar energy. International flights operating from this airport include destinations Sharjah, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, Jeddah, Dammam, Bahrain, Muscat, Doha, Kuwait, Singapore, Riyadh, Bangkok and Colombo.
Ahmedabad is the largest city in Gujarat. Thus, it is no surprise that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport has found a place on the list of the number of airports in India with the highest traffic. Almost 10 million people take their flight from or arrive at the Ahmedabad airport every year. Transit travellers can relax at the two luxury lounges at the airport.
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Established by the Royal Air Force as an airbase, Pune Airport is the ninth busiest airport in India, handling around 8 million people in FY2017-2018. The passenger traffic at the airport is believed to grow manifolds with the increasing significance of Pune as a centre of commerce and academics.
Goa, the land of sun, sand and sea, is the ultimate party destination in India. Thus, hordes and hordes of international and domestic tourists book cheap flights and Goa hotels.
So, these are the busiest international and domestic airports in India. With the aviation industry in India growing at a fast pace, the annual passenger traffic at these is believed to grow even further.
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