Top Busiest Airports in India

Top busiest airports in India, a phrase that instantly brings to mind the constant hum of aircraft, endless queues, and sprawling terminals. India’s aviation sector has witnessed explosive growth over the past decade, giving rise to a fleet of highly efficient and globally connected airports.
Top busiest airports in India aren't just points of departure or arrival — they are lifelines that fuel regional economies, connect millions of passengers, and represent India's progress in aviation infrastructure. Whether you're planning your next journey or studying India’s airport ecosystem, this list covers everything you need to know.
Top busiest airports in India includes a diverse mix of international and domestic airports. These bustling aviation hubs have transformed the travel experience and enhanced connectivity across India and the world.
Introduction to the Top Busiest Airports in India
India boasts some of the largest airports in India, managing immense passenger traffic and offering world-class amenities. The busiest airports in India aren’t only measured by aircraft movement or terminals but by how they serve passengers day and night, 365 days a year.
Understanding the top airports in India by passengers can help both domestic and international travelers, researchers, and professionals working in the aviation sector.
These airports are ranked based on their busiest Indian airports annual traffic, connectivity, and infrastructure scale, offering a detailed snapshot of the aviation landscape in India.
Key Highlights of the Busiest Indian Airports
✈️ Why These Airports Matter:
- Top busiest airports in India manage tens of millions of passengers yearly.
- They serve as vital international and domestic transit points.
- Provide employment and contribute significantly to local and national economies.
🌐 How Rankings Are Determined:
- Annual passenger volume
- Domestic and international flight operations
- Geographic and strategic importance
Top 10 Busiest Airports in India

India's Leading Aviation Hubs Ranked by Passenger Traffic
The Top 10 busiest airports in India serve as critical junctions in the nation's rapidly growing air travel network. These airports handle the highest number of domestic and international passengers annually, offering world-class infrastructure, connectivity, and efficiency. Whether you're a frequent flyer or just curious about India's aviation landscape, this list highlights the key players transforming the way we travel across the subcontinent.
Top 10 Busiest Airports in India
Rank | Airport Name | City | State/UT |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Indira Gandhi International Airport | Delhi | Delhi NCR |
2 | Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport | Mumbai | Maharashtra |
3 | Kempegowda International Airport | Bengaluru | Karnataka |
4 | Rajiv Gandhi International Airport | Hyderabad | Telangana |
5 | Chennai International Airport | Chennai | Tamil Nadu |
6 | Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport | Kolkata | West Bengal |
7 | Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport | Ahmedabad | Gujarat |
8 | Cochin International Airport | Kochi | Kerala |
9 | Pune Airport | Pune | Maharashtra |
10 | Dabolim Airport | Dabolim | Goa |
List of 50 Busiest Airports in India
Here’s the complete list of busiest Indian airports by annual traffic, including busiest international airports in India and domestic airports India ranking.Rank | Name | City | State/UT |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Indira Gandhi International Airport | Delhi | Delhi NCR |
2 | Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport | Mumbai | Maharashtra |
3 | Kempegowda International Airport | Bengaluru | Karnataka |
4 | Rajiv Gandhi International Airport | Hyderabad | Telangana |
5 | Chennai International Airport | Chennai | Tamil Nadu |
6 | Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport | Kolkata | West Bengal |
7 | Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport | Ahmedabad | Gujarat |
8 | Cochin International Airport | Kochi | Kerala |
9 | Pune Airport | Pune | Maharashtra |
10 | Dabolim Airport | Dabolim | Goa |
11 | Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport | Lucknow | Uttar Pradesh |
12 | Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport | Guwahati | Assam |
13 | Jaipur International Airport | Jaipur | Rajasthan |
14 | Biju Patnaik International Airport | Bhubaneswar | Odisha |
15 | Manohar International Airport | Mopa | Goa |
16 | Trivandrum International Airport | Thiruvananthapuram | Kerala |
17 | Sheikh Ul Alam International Airport | Srinagar | Jammu and Kashmir |
18 | Chandigarh Airport | Chandigarh | Chandigarh |
19 | Devi Ahilyabai Holkar International Airport | Indore | Madhya Pradesh |
20 | Jay Prakash Narayan Airport | Patna | Bihar |
21 | Calicut International Airport | Kozhikode | Kerala |
22 | Bagdogra International Airport | Siliguri | West Bengal |
23 | Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport | Amritsar | Punjab |
24 | Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport | Varanasi | Uttar Pradesh |
25 | Coimbatore International Airport | Coimbatore | Tamil Nadu |
26 | Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport | Nagpur | Maharashtra |
27 | Visakhapatnam International Airport | Visakhapatnam | Andhra Pradesh |
28 | Birsa Munda Airport | Ranchi | Jharkhand |
29 | Swami Vivekananda Airport | Raipur | Chhattisgarh |
30 | Mangalore International Airport | Mangalore | Karnataka |
31 | Tiruchirappalli International Airport | Tiruchirappalli | Tamil Nadu |
32 | Jolly Grant Airport | Dehradun | Uttarakhand |
33 | Maharana Pratap Airport | Udaipur | Rajasthan |
34 | Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport | Agartala | Tripura |
35 | Jammu Airport | Jammu | Jammu and Kashmir |
36 | Veer Savarkar Airport | Port Blair | Andaman and Nicobar |
37 | Surat International Airport | Surat | Gujarat |
38 | Bhopal Airport | Bhopal | Madhya Pradesh |
39 | Madurai Airport | Madurai | Tamil Nadu |
40 | Imphal Airport | Imphal | Manipur |
41 | Vadodara Airport | Vadodara | Gujarat |
42 | Kannur International Airport | Kannur | Kerala |
43 | Jodhpur Airport | Jodhpur | Rajasthan |
44 | Leh Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport | Leh | Ladakh |
45 | Vijayawada International Airport | Vijayawada | Andhra Pradesh |
46 | Tirupati Airport | Tirupati | Andhra Pradesh |
47 | Dibrugarh Airport | Dibrugarh | Assam |
48 | Shirdi Airport | Shirdi | Maharashtra |
49 | Gorakhpur Airport | Gorakhpur | Uttar Pradesh |
50 | Aurangabad Airport | Aurangabad | Maharashtra |
Top Busiest Airports in India – Regional & International
📍Regional Spread
From Delhi to Kochi, from Leh to Port Blair, the most crowded airports in India serve travelers across the entire nation. These major airports in India are improving regional connectivity and creating new growth opportunities.🌏 International and Domestic Coverage
Many of these busiest airports in India offer both international and domestic routes. Airports like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad handle the majority of international traffic, while others like Patna, Ranchi, and Coimbatore lead domestic operations.Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Which is the busiest airport in India?
A1: Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI), Delhi is the busiest airport in India in terms of passenger traffic and aircraft movements.
Q2: How many international airports are there in India?
A2: India has over 30 international airports, catering to global air travel demands.
Q3: Which airport has the largest passenger terminal in India?
A3: Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi, has the largest integrated passenger terminal (T3), spanning approximately 5.4 million square feet.
Q4: Which Indian airport handles the highest cargo traffic?
A4: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai, is the busiest in terms of air cargo handling.
Q5: What is the newest airport in India?
A5: Manohar International Airport, Mopa, Goa, which opened in 2022, is among the newest operational airports.
Q6: Which is the highest-altitude airport in India?
A6: Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport, Leh, is India's highest-altitude airport at 3,256 meters (10,682 feet) above sea level.
Q7: Which airport is the best in India in terms of service quality?
A7: Airports such as Hyderabad (Rajiv Gandhi International Airport) and Bengaluru (Kempegowda International Airport) are frequently ranked among the best in service quality.
Interesting Trivia About Indian Airports
- 🛩️ First Airport in India: Juhu Aerodrome, Mumbai (built in 1928) is India's first airport, primarily used for general aviation today.
- 🌍 Largest Airport by Area: Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi, spans over 5,106 acres, making it the largest airport in India.
- ☀️ Only Airport Operated by a Solar Plant: Cochin International Airport in Kerala is the world’s first fully solar-powered airport.
- 🧳 Busiest Domestic Route: The Delhi–Mumbai route is the busiest domestic air route in India.
- 🚀 Fastest-Growing Airport: Bangalore’s Kempegowda International Airport has seen rapid expansion, including the launch of Terminal 2 (T2) in 2022.
- 🕉️ Airport Named After a Saint: Shirdi Airport in Maharashtra is named after Sai Baba of Shirdi, a revered spiritual leader.
- 🏝️ Only Airport in Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Veer Savarkar Airport, Port Blair, serves as the only airport for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
- 🏛️ Closest to a UNESCO Heritage Site: Aurangabad Airport serves as the main air hub for Ajanta and Ellora Caves, UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Conclusion
The top busiest airports in India mirror the nation’s rapid growth in air connectivity. From upgraded infrastructure to tech-savvy terminals, these hubs stand tall in the global aviation arena. With upcoming giants like Noida International Airport, the sky is just the beginning.