A modern feel and efficiency are two big requirements for air travelers when choosing the best airports worldwide. Some airports, which used to be the best years ago, are now overcrowded, while others have weather problems or need more sophisticated air traffic control. Airports in India have been spending huge money to upgrade their existing infrastructure. The efforts have shown results. Delhi and Mumbai airports have featured in the top 5 airports worldwide in the 25-40 million passengers handling capacity category.
1. Indira Gandhi International Airport
Delhi's IGI Airport was adjudged as the 2nd best. This is the third time in a row that IGIA has won the coveted award for airport service quality ASQ from ACI.
- It is the primary and busiest international airport of the NCR region, India.
- It has a total capacity of over 60 million passengers.
- It has an integrated International and Domestic terminal. T3 is a nine-level passenger terminal building with two piers, each 1.2 km long. It is the 6th largest terminal in the world.
- In 2010, Delhi's T3 terminal opened up after five years of development and spending of Rs 12,700 crore.
2. Rajiv Gandhi International Airport
It is an international airport serving the city of Pearls Hyderabad, located in Shamshabad, about 22 km south of Hyderabad.
- A private company operates it and handles around 7 million passengers annually.
- The excellent airport has world-class facilities, including "in-line" baggage screening machines, plenty of check-in and immigration counters to prevent delays, and good crowd control.
3. Bengaluru International Airport
It is the third busiest airport in India and is located in the Garden City.
- More than 10 million passengers take national and international flights annually.
- It was opened in 2008, and a private company constructed it.
- The total area of this airport is approximately 4000 acres.
- There are two-level buildings that can accommodate nearly 3,000 passengers at peak hours.
4. Chhatrapati Shavaji International Airport
The airport of the financial capital of India covers an area of 1,450 acres and is located in the suburbs of Santa Cruz and Sahar.
- The Chhatrapati Shivaji Internal Airport has an airport that has approximately 25 million passengers a year.
- It was leased to a private operator in 2006, and continuous renovations and upgrades are ongoing.
- A new domestic terminal is operational, and a new international terminal was inaugurated in 2014.
- Long lines for security checks when entering the airport still pose a problem during peak travel times at night.
5. Chennai International Airport
Chennai airport is the hub for arrivals and departures in south India. The new domestic terminal was opened in April 2013, and the international terminal was commissioned a few months later.
- It handles around 8 million passengers annually, over half flying domestically.
- The Indian government operates the airport, and its terminals are being redeveloped.
- While it's functional, further ongoing work is needed to complete the infrastructure.
Wait, We have more for you. Here are some of the Unbelievable Airports of India
6. Agatti Airport
Situated on an island in the middle of the Indian Ocean, this 4000 ft-long Airport has only one passenger terminal and is served by only two airlines, namely Indian Airlines and Kingfisher Airlines. Both these airlines operate flights between Agatti Island and Cochin, while Kingfisher Airlines offers flights between Agatti Island and Bangalore. Agatti Island is a tiny seven km-long island that can be easily covered on foot or by bicycle.
7. Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport
One of the highest airports in the world at 3,256 m 10,682 ft above mean sea level.
8. Jubbarhatti Airport
Shimla Airport is located in Jabarhatti, 22 kilometers from Shimla in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The airport was constructed by cutting down a mountaintop and leveling the area to form a single runway. The tiny apron has space for two small aircraft, Dornier Do 228, to park simultaneously. The small terminal can handle 50 persons for arriving flights but only 40 for departing flights.
9. Lengpui Airport
The airport is connected by daily flights with Kolkata and Guwahati and three flights a week with Imphal and is located 32 km from Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram. Lengpui Airport is the first large airport in the country to be built by the State Government. It is among the three airports in India that have a tabletop runway, which creates an optical illusion.
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