Looking for an airport in India? Start with the city, the three-letter airport code and the exact airport location. Major gateways include Delhi (DEL), Mumbai (BOM), Bengaluru (BLR), Hyderabad (HYD), Chennai (MAA) and Kolkata (CCU), alongside regional airports serving smaller cities, islands and mountain destinations.
India’s airport network has changed significantly: Navi Mumbai, Noida and the new airport at Bhogapuram serving Visakhapatnam have begun commercial operations. This guide helps you find important airports, understand the different airport categories and avoid booking a flight to the wrong airport.
Last reviewed: October 2026. Airport statistics below retain their source date. Flight routes and terminal assignments should be checked for your travel date.
How Many Airports Are There in India?
The answer depends on what is being counted. An operational airport total is different from a count of every airstrip, military airfield, heliport or proposed airport project.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation’s airport dashboard, dated 7 July 2026, lists the following:
| Category | Published number |
|---|---|
| Operational total | 165 |
| International airports, including joint ventures | 36 |
| Customs airports | 11 |
| Domestic category, including state-government and private airports | 118 |
These are the dashboard’s dated categories, not a claim that every airport has daily passenger flights. Subsequent openings and changes may appear in later government releases.
Why airport totals differ: Government statistics, AAI management figures and lists of all airfields measure different things. Do not add an AAI-managed total to a nationwide operational total, or treat every airstrip as a bookable passenger airport.
Domestic, International and Customs Airports: What Is the Difference?
- Domestic airport: Primarily serves journeys within India.
- International airport: Has the designation and facilities associated with international operations, but its actual destinations depend on airline schedules and permissions.
- Customs airport: A separate administrative category that can support permitted international activity. It is not automatically a major international hub.
- Civil enclave: Civilian passenger facilities located at an airfield also used by the armed forces.
An international airport can handle domestic flights. Conversely, “International” in the airport’s name does not guarantee that a particular overseas route operates—or that international departures are available every day.
For a directory focused specifically on overseas gateways, visit our International Airports of India guide.
Major International Airports in India: Names, Cities and Codes
The following is a practical selection of important gateways, rather than an exhaustive register of every designated airport.
| City or region | Airport | IATA code |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi | Indira Gandhi International Airport | DEL |
| Mumbai | Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport | BOM |
| Navi Mumbai | Navi Mumbai International Airport | NMI |
| Bengaluru | Kempegowda International Airport | BLR |
| Hyderabad | Rajiv Gandhi International Airport | HYD |
| Chennai | Chennai International Airport | MAA |
| Kolkata | Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport | CCU |
| Ahmedabad | Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport | AMD |
| Kochi | Cochin International Airport | COK |
| Thiruvananthapuram | Trivandrum International Airport | TRV |
| Kozhikode | Calicut International Airport | CCJ |
| Kannur | Kannur International Airport | CNN |
| Goa: Dabolim | Goa International Airport | GOI |
| Goa: Mopa | Manohar International Airport | GOX |
| Amritsar | Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport | ATQ |
| Lucknow | Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport | LKO |
| Varanasi | Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport | VNS |
| Jaipur | Jaipur International Airport | JAI |
| Guwahati | Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport | GAU |
| Bhubaneswar | Biju Patnaik International Airport | BBI |
| Tiruchirappalli | Tiruchirappalli International Airport | TRZ |
| Mangaluru | Mangaluru International Airport | IXE |
| Noida / Jewar | Noida International Airport | DXN |
| Visakhapatnam / Bhogapuram | Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport | VTZ |
Use the IATA airport-code search to check a code and the airport operator’s website to confirm its location. Airport names, booking-city names and codes do not always resemble one another.
More Airports in India by State and Region
These additional airports are useful when planning journeys beyond the largest hubs. Some have international status or overseas services as well; inclusion here does not mean they are “domestic-only.”
| State or region | Selected airports and codes |
|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | Vijayawada (VGA), Tirupati (TIR), Rajahmundry (RJA) |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Itanagar / Donyi Polo (HGI) |
| Assam | Dibrugarh (DIB), Silchar (IXS), Jorhat (JRH) |
| Bihar | Patna (PAT), Gaya (GAY), Darbhanga (DBR) |
| Chhattisgarh | Raipur (RPR), Jagdalpur (JGB) |
| Gujarat | Rajkot–Hirasar (HSR), Surat (STV), Vadodara (BDQ) |
| Himachal Pradesh | Kangra / Dharamshala (DHM) |
| Jammu and Kashmir | Srinagar (SXR), Jammu (IXJ) |
| Jharkhand | Ranchi (IXR), Deoghar (DGH) |
| Karnataka | Hubballi (HBX), Belagavi (IXG), Mysuru (MYQ) |
| Ladakh | Leh (IXL) |
| Madhya Pradesh | Indore (IDR), Bhopal (BHO), Jabalpur (JLR), Gwalior (GWL) |
| Maharashtra | Pune (PNQ), Nagpur (NAG), Shirdi (SAG), Nashik (ISK) |
| Manipur | Imphal (IMF) |
| Meghalaya | Shillong (SHL) |
| Mizoram | Aizawl (AJL) |
| Nagaland | Dimapur (DMU) |
| Odisha | Jharsuguda (JRG) |
| Chandigarh region | Chandigarh (IXC), serving Chandigarh and surrounding areas |
| Rajasthan | Udaipur (UDR), Jodhpur (JDH), Jaisalmer (JSA) |
| Tamil Nadu | Coimbatore (CJB), Madurai (IXM), Thoothukudi / Tuticorin (TCR) |
| Tripura | Agartala (IXA) |
| Uttar Pradesh | Ayodhya (AYJ), Prayagraj (IXD), Gorakhpur (GOP), Agra (AGR) |
| Uttarakhand | Dehradun (DED), Pantnagar (PGH) |
| West Bengal | Bagdogra (IXB), Durgapur (RDP) |
| Andaman and Nicobar Islands | Sri Vijaya Puram / Port Blair (IXZ) |
| Lakshadweep | Agatti (AGX) |
| Puducherry | Puducherry (PNY) |
For further airport information, consult AAI’s airport directory and your airline’s current destination list. Smaller-airport schedules can be limited, seasonal or changed at short notice.
Indian Airports Travellers Commonly Confuse
Mumbai BOM and Navi Mumbai NMI
These are separate airports, not terminals of one airport. A connection between them requires a ground transfer, with time for baggage collection, any arrival formalities, road travel and check-in at the second airport.
Plan a suitable taxi or car transfer. Do not treat an auto-rickshaw or a local-train journey as a straightforward airport connection, particularly with children or heavy baggage.
Read Mumbai Airport to Navi Mumbai Airport: Distance, Travel Time and Transfers and How Much Time Do You Need Between BOM and NMI?
Goa GOI and GOX
GOI is Dabolim; GOX is Manohar International Airport at Mopa. Compare the airport location with your hotel before choosing a fare. A cheaper flight can become less attractive after a longer road transfer.
Delhi DEL and Noida DXN
Noida International Airport at Jewar is separate from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport. Check the code before booking an airport hotel, arranging a pickup or buying a connecting flight.
Rajkot: check for Hirasar HSR
Use the current airport location and code rather than an old saved pickup address. AAI identifies Rajkot Hirasar International Airport as HSR in its official airport brochure.
Visakhapatnam: check the new airport location
The airport operator now identifies Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram as VTZ. Confirm your ground-transfer destination on the official Vizag airport website, rather than relying on an older airport address.
Send your pickup driver three things: the airport code, terminal information and flight number. A city name alone may not be enough.
New Airports in India: What Has Actually Opened?
An inauguration, a test landing and the start of commercial passenger services are different milestones. The opening dates below refer to confirmed commercial operations.
Navi Mumbai International Airport — NMI
Navi Mumbai began commercial operations on 25 December 2025, according to the airport operator’s launch announcement. It is an additional airport for the Mumbai metropolitan region, not a replacement terminal at BOM.
See our Navi Mumbai Airport guide. For an existing reservation, check your airline’s notice rather than assuming a flight has moved from Mumbai.
Noida International Airport — DXN
Noida International Airport began commercial flights on 15 June 2026. Its official opening announcement states that services initially covered domestic routes, with international operations planned subsequently.
For an overseas journey, check the airline’s actual timetable. The airport’s name alone does not establish that a particular international route is operating.
Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport, Bhogapuram — VTZ
The new airport serving Visakhapatnam commenced commercial operations on 17 August 2026. The operator’s opening release confirms domestic and international services at launch.
Its location at Bhogapuram makes it particularly important to update saved airport directions and review the road journey before departure.
Sabarimala airport: keep project plans separate from travel options
Sabarimala’s proposed greenfield airport should not be presented as an operating passenger airport. Kerala government records describe the project’s land-acquisition process; travellers should use an airport with a confirmed flight schedule.
Reference: Kerala government project documentation.
Before relying on a new airport: Confirm that your airline is selling the flight for your date, check the airport code and location, and review any recent operational notice. A proposed opening date is not a flight confirmation.
Which Is the Busiest Airport in India?
Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport is India’s busiest airport by passenger traffic. Its operator reported approximately 79.3 million passengers in financial year 2024–25.
That figure should not be labelled as calendar-year 2024 traffic. Financial-year totals and calendar-year rankings cover different periods. Source: Delhi Airport’s FY 2024–25 annual report.
“Best airport” is a different question. Passenger rankings, awards, walking distances, immigration queues and transport convenience measure different aspects of the experience.
How to Choose the Right Indian Airport
- Check the three-letter code. Confirm it on every flight, including separate bookings.
- Compare the total journey. Include road travel, transfer cost and your final destination—not just the airfare.
- Confirm the terminal separately. An airport code identifies the airport, not necessarily the terminal.
- Check connection arrangements. Establish whether baggage is checked through and whether you must change airports.
- Review smaller-airport schedules. A missed or cancelled flight may have fewer same-day alternatives.
- Recheck before departure. Use the airline’s booking record and official airport information for changes.
Our India Airport Terminals Guide explains terminal labels. First-time travellers can follow the step-by-step guide to boarding a flight in India.
For international arrivals: Plan how you will contact your driver before landing. Keep the pickup details available offline and read our Indian airport Wi-Fi guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many international airports are there in India in 2026?
The Ministry of Civil Aviation dashboard dated 7 July 2026 lists 36 international airports. Keep that date with the figure and distinguish airport designation from the availability of scheduled international flights.
Does every international airport have domestic flights?
Many do, including the major hubs. However, the routes available depend on the airport and airline schedule. Search for the particular journey and travel date.
Is there a difference between an airport and a terminal?
Yes. A terminal is a passenger building within an airport. Moving between terminals can still require time, but moving between separate airports involves a different ground journey.
Is Navi Mumbai Airport open?
Yes. Commercial operations started on 25 December 2025. Its code is NMI, while Mumbai’s existing airport uses BOM.
Is Noida Airport the same as Delhi Airport?
No. Noida International Airport uses DXN and is located at Jewar in Uttar Pradesh. Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport uses DEL.
Which airport should I use for Goa?
Compare Dabolim (GOI) and Mopa (GOX) against your accommodation, flight timing and transfer price. Check both the arrival and departure airport when booking a return trip.
Are all five international airports in Uttar Pradesh operating overseas flights?
Do not assume that designation means scheduled overseas services. Check current departures separately for Lucknow, Varanasi, Kushinagar, Ayodhya and Noida. A charter, inaugural flight or announced route does not establish a regular service.
What is the airport code for Kushinagar?
Kushinagar International Airport uses KBK. The code can be verified through the official IATA code directory.
Which was India’s first airport built under a public-private partnership?
Cochin International Airport identifies itself as India’s first airport built under the PPP model. See CIAL’s official history.
Where can I find the complete official airport directory?
Use AAI’s airport information, the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s statistics and official operator websites. This page provides a traveller-focused selection; it does not list every military airfield, private strip, heliport or proposed project.
Related Airport Guides
- International Airports of India: Codes and Official Links
- India Airport Terminals Guide: T1, T2 and T3
- How Early Should I Arrive at the Airport in India?
- How Early Can You Enter an Indian Airport?
- Mumbai Airport Transit Guide
- Which Mumbai Flights Will Move to Navi Mumbai Airport?
- Drinking Water in Indian Airports
- Missed a Connecting Flight? Who Pays for the New Ticket?
- Phone Dead or Lost? Why Carry a Printed Boarding Pass
