India is an enormous country, and although there are excellent land transport links throughout the country, these are often overcrowded and uncomfortable, and the distance between major centers requires lengthy journeys. It is for these reasons that internal flights within India are so popular. With a comprehensive selection of internal flight routes, air travel within India offers excellent access to destinations nationwide. With a reputation for having somewhat chaotic airports, the country’s larger air hubs have undergone renovations, and facilities have improved dramatically over recent years.
Major airports in India offer both domestic and international flights.
India currently has around 141 airports operational nationwide, which is expected to increase to 220 by 2024-25. The Airports Authority of India manages all major airports throughout the country. India is now well on the way to having some much improved, glossy new airport terminals. However, this hasn’t been without major inconvenience to passengers. In addition, congested runways at many airports add to flight delays.
India International Airports
India has several international airports, some of which are major hubs for international travel. Here are some of the main international airports in India:
The Airports Authority of India (AAI)
Bombay Airport, India Mumbai Airport
Mumbai (Bombay) has two Airports:
- The Chattrapathi Shivaji International Airport
- Santa Cruz Domestic Airport
At 26 feet above mean sea level, The Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport is one of India’s major international airports.
Indira Gandhi International Airport, India New Delhi Airport
Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport (IATA: DEL, ICAO: VIDP), located in the city of Delhi, India, and is the busiest airport in India and the main gateway to the country for international travelers. Earlier known as Palam Airport, it was renamed IGI airport with the inauguration of a new international terminal.
Cochin Airport, Kerala, India CIAL Airport
Cochin International Airport is one of the country’s youngest Airports, with modern facilities and conveniences. Located at Nedumbassery, about 30 km off Kochi (Cochin) city, this is the first airport in India constructed with private participation outside the ambit of the Airport Authority of India. Government of Kerala, Non-Resident Indians from over 30 countries
Rajiv Gandhi Hyderabad International Airport – Hyderabad Airport
Begumpet Airport (IATA: HYD, ICAO: VOHY) at Hyderabad, also known as Hyderabad Airport, is currently the only international airport in Andhra Pradesh. It is a civil enclave located in Begumpet. The airport is host to the Andhra Pradesh Aviation Academy and the Begumpet Air Force Station of the Indian Air Force as well.
Chennai International Airport (MAA) Tamil Nadu, India, formerly Madras
Madras International Airport is situated at Tirisulam, 7 Km south of Chennai. It has two terminals, Kamaraj Terminal, handles domestic flights connecting 20 destinations across the country with Chennai. The International Terminal, named Anna Terminal, connects major destinations.
Bengaluru International Airport Bangalore Airport
Bengaluru International Airport IATA: BLR, ICAO: VOBL) is an international airport serving the city of Bangalore. The airport is the fourth busiest airport in India after Mumbai, Delhi, and Chennai. The airport hosts 10 domestic airlines and 21 international airlines connecting the city to about 50 destinations across India and the world.
Kolkatta Airport
The international Netaji Subhash Airport (Dum Dum Airport) is 20 km from the city. Most of the domestic airlines have direct services to and from Kolkata-Kolkata to other important cities of India, such as Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Patna, Varanasi, Lucknow, and Bangalore.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (Gujarati) (IATA: AMD, ICAO: VAAH) is India’s eighth busiest airport, averaging 250 aircraft movements daily. It services the metropolitan areas of two cities in the State of Gujarat – Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar – and is located 8 km (5.0 miles) from the Ahmedabad Railway Station.
Raja Sansi International Airport
The Raja Sansi International Airport at Amritsar (IATA: ATQ, ICAO: VIAR), also known as Guru Ram Das International Airport, is located about 11km from the city center. Several airlines operate flights from abroad, including Singapore, London, Birmingham, and Toronto.
Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport – Guwahati Airport
Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (IATA: GAU, ICAO: VEGT), also known as Guwahati International Airport and formerly as Borjhar Airport, is the airport of Guwahati, Assam, India. The Airports Authority of India manages the airport and serves as the Indian Air Force base. Full List of Airports Codes of India
Lists by ICAO location indicator, Lists by state or union territory 
India is dotted with airports handling national and international flights. India’s airport network efficiently caters to the millions of travelers and tourists visiting the country.
Due to this, India’s travel and tourism industry is booming and benefiting the country’s economy. India has more than 20 international airports and several domestic airports. The important airports in India include Indira Gandhi International Airport of New Delhi, Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport of Mumbai, Begumpet Airport of Hyderabad, Calicut International Airport of Calicut, Chennai International Airport of Chennai, Cochin International Airport Limited of Cochin, HAL Airport of Bangalore, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport of Kolkata, Raja Sansi International Airport of Amritsar, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport of Ahmedabad and Trivandrum International Airport of Trivandrum.
List of airports in India
ICAO The location indicator the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) assigned. IATA The airport code the International Air Transport Association (IATA) assigned. Airport categories Civil enclave: Civil enclaves at a military airport Closed/former: Closed or former airport Domestic: Airport which handles only domestic flights Future: Airport under construction International: Airport typically equipped with customs and immigration facilities to handle international flights Military: Military airbase
Major Airports in India, India Airports Map
List of airports in India
34 international airports (6 airports serve domestic flights only)