Top 10 busiest airports in India
Discover India's top 10 busiest airports, including Delhi and Mumbai. Learn about their passenger traffic and why they are key travel hubs
By Forbes India
Last Updated: Sep 17, 2024, 10:50 IST5 min
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Did you know India boasts some of the world"s busiest airports? In fact, FY 2024 witnessed a surge in air travel, with a whopping 376.4 million passengers using Indian airports—15 percent higher than the previous year and 10 percent more than pre-COVID levels.
The busiest airports in India are not only major gateways to the country but also important hubs for domestic and international travel. In this article, we will study the top 10 busiest airports in India, their significance, and the impressive passenger traffic they handle.
Top 10 Busiest Airports in India
Here is the tabular overview of the top 10 busiest airports in India, along with their annual passenger traffic change:
| Airports | City | Annual Passenger Traffic (2022-23) | Annual Passenger Traffic (2023-24) | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indira Gandhi International Airport | New Delhi | 65,327,833 | 73,673,708 | +12.8 |
| Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport | Mumbai | 43,930,298 | 52,820,754 | +20.2 |
| Kempegowda International Airport | Bengaluru | 31,911,429 | 37,528,533 | +17.6 |
| Rajiv Gandhi International Airport | Hyderabad | 20,996,027 | 25,042,282 | +19.3 |
| Chennai International Airport | Chennai | 18,571,393 | 21,207,262 | +14.2 |
| Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport | Kolkata | 17,768,862 | 19,784,417 | +11.3 |
| Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport | Ahmedabad | 10,137,001 | 11,696,227 | +15.4 |
| Cochin International Airport | Kochi | 8,812,531 | 10,365,655 | +17.6 |
| Pune Airport | Pune | 8,007,160 | 9,525,484 | +19.0 |
| Dabolim Airport | Dabolim | 8,359,393 | 6,872,411 | -17.8 |
Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi (IATA: DEL)
- Number of terminals: 3
The airport has significant infrastructure, such as the large Terminal 3 and a 4,430 m runway. To manage increasing traffic, a second airport, Noida International Airport, is under construction.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai (IATA: BOM)
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai Photo by Ashish Vaishnav/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
- Number of terminals: 2
Originally named Sahar Airport, it was renamed in 1999 in honour of the 17th-century Maratha ruler, Shivaji Maharaj. The airport is located in Santacruz and Sahar Village in Vile Parle East.
Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (IATA: BLR)
Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru Image: Shutterstock
- Number of terminals: 2
It is the third-busiest airport in India, handling over 37.5 million passengers and 439,495 tonnes of cargo in FY 2023-24. The airport features two passenger terminals, two runways, a cargo village, and three cargo terminals, offering flights to all six inhabited continents.
Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad (IATA: HYD)
Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad Image: Shutterstock
- Number of terminals: 1
Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is the fourth busiest airport in India, serving over 25 million passengers and 150,000 tonnes of cargo annually. It is a hub for Alliance Air, Amazon Air, and IndiGo.
Chennai International Airport, Chennai (IATA: MAA)
Chennai International Airport, Chennai Image: Shutterstock
- Number of terminals: 3
In 2023-24, it handled over 17 million passengers and 0.34 million tonnes of cargo. With a 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 (IATA: CCU)
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata Image: Shutterstock
- Number of terminals: 1
Opened in 1924, it is one of India"s oldest airports and the main hub for eastern and northeastern India. The airport covers 6.64 square kilometres and accommodated over 20 million passengers in 2023-24, making it the sixth busiest airport in India.
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Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad (IATA: AMD)
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad Image: Shutterstock
- Number of terminals: 2
The airport was established in 1937 and began international operations in 1991. It also 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 (IATA: COK)
Cochin International Airport, Kochi Image: Shutterstock
- Number of terminals: 3
The airport, known for being the world"s first fully solar-powered airport, serves 31 international and 22 domestic destinations with three passenger terminals and one cargo terminal. Recognised for its achievements, 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 (IATA: PNQ)
Pune Airport, Pune Image: Shutterstock
- Number of terminals: 2
It is considered the ninth-busiest airport in India, connecting over 9.5 million passengers in the 2023-24 financial year.
Dabolim Airport, Goa (IATA: GOI)
Dabolim Airport, Goa Image: Shutterstock
- Number of terminals: 1
In 2022-23, Dabolim Airport (GOI) handled around 8.5 million passengers annually. However, passenger traffic has declined since the opening of Mopa Airport, located approximately 60 kilometres away, in January 2023.
First Published: Sep 17, 2024, 10:50
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