10 Indian Airports that one should surely see

‘People don’t take trips, trips take people’ – John Steinbeck

If this is true, how you start your trip matters the most. Regardless of the mode of transportation, any journey that we take leaves us with a lifetime of memories and impressions. India, the third-largest civil aviation market after the USA and China, has approximately 450 airports catering to domestic and international destinations. Therefore, it is time to explore the top 10 airports in India, and this list goes a long way. Remember, airports are an integral part of any journey not only because they help us reach our destination faster, but also because they deliver us supreme comfort and ease.

Top-10 Airports to Visit in India

1. Indira Gandhi International Airport – New Delhi

This is the busiest airport in the country and the 12th busiest airport in the world. Situated in the heart of India, New Delhi, this airport has three terminals and deals with domestic as well as international air traffic. In Asia, this is the 6th busiest airport, which is built on approximately 5,000 acres of land. It connects all tourist places in India via direct or connecting flights. Indira Gandhi Airport is named after the former Prime Minister of India and is built with an aesthetic brilliance. In the year 2021, this airport was declared the Second-Safest airport in the world as it took great measures to protect passengers during the pandemic. It is indeed a well-equipped airport having sleeping pods, VIP lounges, shopping places, currency exchange, and known restaurants. By the year 2030, it is said that this airport alone in India will handle 100 million passengers.

2. Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport – Mumbai

This is the second-busiest airport in the country spread across 1800 acres of land. The profound GVK lounge in the airport is the best attraction for business and first-class passengers. It has a bar, fine dining options, a shower area, and some shopping outlets to make your travel comfortable and memorable. Mumbai is a town known for sightseeing places near Mumbai airport is just 8 km away from the city centre. T2 has the Jaya Ha GVK New Museum which showcases more than 5000 artifacts and gives passengers a deep understanding of Indian culture and history. In 2017, it shared the position of ‘the World’s Best Airport’ along with Delhi, at Airport Service Quality Awards.

3. Kempegowda International Airport – Bangalore

This fully solar-powered airport is located in the Garden city of India, Bangalore, and is one of the finest airports in the country. It has a huge food court and a fancy VIP lounge. In 2010, this airport was awarded ‘The Best Managed Airport’. Also, a platinum rating has been given to it by IATA. For sleepy heads, it has lavish sleeping pods. This airport is built over 4000 acres of land. It handles approximately 12 million passengers in a year and is the fourth-busiest airport in the country. The best part of this airport is that it has exclusive arrangements for Hajj Pilgrims along with prayer rooms and Wadu hot water.

Check out some of the most popular weekend getaways near Bangalore here!

4. Rajiv Gandhi International Airport – Hyderabad

This airport is located in the city of Pearl and is approximately 25 km away from the city centre. There are a plethora of tourist places to visit in the city, which is why it is the sixth-busiest airport in the country. This airport falls under the top 10 Air Help list in India. It has one passenger terminal and a cargo terminal. It handles approximately 40 million passengers in a year. This airport has baby care facilities, a currency exchange centre, shopping outlets, a luxury lounge, and restaurants.

5. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport – Kolkata

This airport is the oldest in India, named after a famous freedom fighter. This airport is spread over 1800 acres of land and is the fifth-busiest airport in India. In Eastern India, it is the largest traffic hub. It is located in the city, Dum Dum which is 15 km away from the airport. If you ever travel to any part of the world from this airport, you will witness luxury lounges, restaurants, duty-free shops, and great eating joints. In 2014 and 2015, this airport was awarded as The Best Improved Airport in the Asia-Pacific region by Airport Council International. In 2020, it was awarded the cleanest airport in India. During the pandemic, a part of the old terminal at Kolkata airport was converted into a quarantine centre for passengers who could not afford institutional quarantine. Approximately 400 beds were put up and washrooms were upgraded to shower cubicles to ensure the safety of the passengers during COVID-19.

6. Dabolim Airport

This airport is located approximately 30 km away from the capital city, Panjim. This is the only airport in Goa, and it caters to domestic and international air traffic. The airport is constructed beautifully and has one terminal that caters to both domestic and international traffic. During the tourist season, you will find some European airlines bringing in international passengers. This beautiful airport has luxury loungers, shopping outlets, ATMs, currency exchange, duty-free stores, and eating points. Therefore, witness all tourist places in Goa with full enthusiasm, as there is a plethora of local transport available from the airport.

7. Cochin International Airport – Kochi

Cochin Airport is the biggest airport in Kerala and is the 8th busiest airport in India. It is known for solar power panels as it is the first in the world to have them. It was awarded The Champion of the Earth by the United Nations in 2018 because of its Carbon Footprint initiative. There are duty-free shops, currency exchange centres, lounges, shopping outlets, and restaurants to facilitate easy travel. It is spread over 1200 acres of land and is approximately 20 km away from the city centre. It has three terminals; 2 for domestic and 1 for international. Also, air taxis are available at this airport to passengers who have travelled to visit pilgrimage sites in Kerala.

Here are a few of the most popular weekend getaways around Kochi!

8. Coimbatore International Airport – Coimbatore

This airport connects passengers to the best tourist place in Tamil Nadu, as it is the second-largest airport in the state. This airport makes travel easier as it has 3 international and 5 domestic airline services to help passengers commute. There is only one terminal to handle domestic and international traffic but they do it hassle-free. To facilitate your travel experience, you can find duty-free shops, exchange centres, bookshops, shopping outlets, VIP lounges, and restaurants at the airport. It is approximately 10 km away from the city centre.

9. Jaipur International Airport – Jaipur

The Pink City, Jaipur is a major tourist spot in Rajasthan which has an international airport that has beautiful architecture. Terminal 2 can cater to 1000 passengers in a day and terminal 1 is now reserved for Hajj flights only and cargo traffic. The entrance gate of the airport is made with Dholpur stones and sandstones, which is an amazing construction. Inside the airport, you will find fine Rajasthan paintings. This airport has 3 VIP lounges, amazing shopping outlets, duty-free shops, and a baby care facility. It is located approximately 13 km away from the city.

10. Biju Patnaik International Airport – Bhubaneswar

This airport is named after a freedom fighter and profound aviator and is situated 6 km away from the city centre. There are a plethora of handicraft shops, gift shops, and food joints. The architecture of the airport has a tribal and ethnic touch, catering to the eco-friendly demands of today’s world; rainwater harvesting and Sewage treatment.

Take-away

These are the top 10 airports in India that help in smooth travelling from one destination to another. If you need help with booking flights & hotels, or any information related to the airport of the final city, then you can search on Cleartrip to make your journey worth it. India is experiencing heavy traffic in air commute as middle-income groups are finding it convenient and economical to travel and reach their destination with utmost ease.

FAQs

Which is the biggest airport in India?

Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi is the biggest in India followed by Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport.

Which is the busiest airport in India?

Indira Gandhi International Airport is the busiest airport in India.

Which domestic airlines are operating in India?

Air India, AirAsia India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, JetLife, Alliance Air, GoAir, Vistara Airlines, Trujet, and Air Costa are some of the known domestic flights that operate in India.

Which is the best airline for domestic travel in India?

IndiGo is ranked No. 1 in the list of Best Airlines in India. It is the biggest airline in India in terms of passengers and cargo traffic.

Which international airlines are operating in India?

Aeroflot Airlines, Air China Flight, Air Arabia Flights, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Delta Airlines, Emirates Airlines, Etihad Airlines, FinnAir Airlines, Kuwait Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Oman Airlines, and Qatar Airlines are some of the international airlines that operate in India.

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