India’s largest airport is a ‘mini city’; not located in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Lucknow, Bengaluru, the city is…
Largest airport in India: India boasts the third largest domestic aviation market in the world, with a total of a 487 airports and airstrips located serving the country’s 1.4 billion population. But did you know that India’s largest airport is not located in any of major metro cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata or Chennai?
Which city hosts India’s largest airport?
According to details, the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) in Hyderabad, also known as the Hyderabad Airport, is the largest airport in India in terms of sheer size. The airport, located in Shamshabad, in the heart of the Telangana capital, is spread over an area of more than 5,500 acres, and also boasts Asia’s longest runway measuring 4,260 meters, enabling hassle-free landing for large commercial airliners like the Airbus A380.
As per official data, the airport’s integrated passenger terminal has the capacity to serve over 34 million passengers annually, and over 2.10 crore passengers commuted via the airport in FY 2022-23.
What are the facilities available at RGIA?
Apart from having the distinction of being the largest airport in India, the RGIA was the first in the country to provide e-boarding facility to passengers. The airport has a wide-range of facilities for travelers, including 83 parking bays, 10 aerobridges, 46 immigration counters and 96 check-in counters.
Flyers awaiting their flights can also avail services like free Wi-Fi, baby care room, emergency medical services, pharmacy and luggage storage facilities, along with duty-free shopping at the airport’s expansive market.
Notably, the RGIA was ranked 8th on the list of world’s top 10 airports, and expansion is underway at rapid pace with a new terminal and runway being built, which will expand the capacity of the airport to 4.5 crore passengers annually. Additionally, there are also plans to construct a new cargo terminal and multimodal transit facility.
India’s aviation industry has witnessed a rapid surge over the last decade and growing at 15% annually, according to reports. In 2023-24, the country witnessed more than 37 crore air travelers domestically, officials said.