List of 10 Best Airports in India That Follow Proper Safety Precautions

If you love travelling via flights, you sure must have visited several airports in India. Indian airports are known for their innovative design, numerous amenities and the unique art and artefacts depicting the rich culture and heritage of each state. Apart from this, several international airports in India also have shopping outlets of top brands, spas for de-stressing, great food and beverage options, and luxurious lounges to relax while waiting for flights. 

Often, more than the excitement of travelling on flights you’re smitten by the sheer beauty and magnificence of the airports you visit! With air travel increasing continuously and several new and affordable airlines launching regularly, more and more modern airports are coming up in different cities in India. 

Although COVID19 pandemic had almost put a full stop to air travel, airports in India adhered to stringent safety measures to provide proper protection to the passengers once flight travel resumed in May. From mandatory web check-in, completely contactless security checks to proper markings on the seats at the Boarding Gates, airports have ensured passenger safety at every stage. Let us take a look at the top 10 best airports in India.

Top 10 Best Airports in India

1 Kempegowda International Airport

Complementing the Garden City of India, Kempegowda International Airport, too, is surrounded by gorgeous flowering gardens and well-maintained lawns. Being one of the busiest airports in India, the Bangalore airport well caters to thousands of passengers each day and is functionally designed to keep up with the demand. The massive airport is spread across an area of 4,000 acres and is also the first fully solar-powered airport of Karnataka. 

There are a wide variety of eateries in the airport where passengers can relish dainty local dishes or indulge in their other favourites. The airport also has some fancy sleep pods that people can use for a quick nap and caters to the needs of business travellers and millennials who are frequent flyers here. 

Contactless is the buzzword in the Kempegowda International Airport since the COVID19 pandemic hit India. From thermal screening, contactless passenger id verification to setting up of contactless self-service kiosks for printing baggage tag and boarding passes, the airport is truly living by the word “contactless”.

• Location: Devanahalli
• Area: 4000 acres
• Distance from City Centre: Around 40kms
• Facilities: Lounges, ATMs, currency exchange, child care room, information centre, restaurants & food courts, top brand shopping outlets

Book a safe stay with hotels near Kempegowda International Airport.

2 Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport 

Formerly called the Sahar International Airport, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai is the second busiest airport in India. The airport has a spa and the country’s first swanky and magnificent luxury lounge – the GVK Lounge. It has won several awards and accolades, being adjudged “World’s Best Airport” in 2017 and “Best Airport in India and Central Asia” in 2016. It is noted for its impeccable and timely air-traffic management, top-notch services, and brilliant architecture.  

For passenger safety and to curb the spread of coronavirus, the airport strictly adhered to social distancing norms for the convenience of the travellers. Along with this, the authorities also ensured proper sanitisation and contactless check-in, security check processes.      

• Location: Andheri
• Area: 1850 acres
• Distance from City Centre: Around 22kms
• Facilities: Lounges, ATMs, currency exchange, duty-free shopping in Terminal 2, child care room, smoking lounges, spa, information centre, restaurants, bars & food courts, top brand shopping outlets.

Book a safe stay with hotels near Mumbai International Airport.

3 Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport

One of the top international airports in India, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport or Kolkata International Airport is located in the gorgeous city of Kolkata. Owing to its location, Dum Dum, it was also known as Dum Dum Airport until it was renamed to the current one in 1995. 

Constructed in an area of more than 1600 acres, this airport serves as the largest hub for air travel in the eastern part of the country. In 2014-15, Kolkata Airport received the “Best Improved Airport” in the Asia-Pacific region category and this year (2020), it was recognised as one of the cleanest airports in India for first-rate cleanliness and upkeep of the internal and external premises. 

Along with following all safety precautions like contactless check-in, social distancing, and contactless security checks, Kolkata Airport had gone one step further to during the coronavirus pandemic. It had converted part of its old terminal into a quarantine centre for passengers who couldn’t afford institutional quarantine. Around 400 beds were set up, and the washrooms were upgraded to shower cubicles to facilitate the quarantine process.   

• Location: Dum Dum
• Area: 1641 acres
• Distance from City Centre: Around 14kms
• Facilities: Free WiFi, ATMs, currency exchange, duty-free shopping, pharmacy, medical facilities, child care room, restaurants & food court.

Book a safe stay with hotels near Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport.

4 Indira Gandhi International Airport

Indira Gandhi International Airport has always featured among the top 10 beautiful airports in India and is well-known for its innovative architecture and amazing amenities. The airport is a major international hub for air-travel in northern India and handles millions of passengers annually. Like Mumbai & Bangalore Airport, Delhi Airport has won innumerable awards such as “Best Airport in the World”, “Best Airport in Central Asia” and “Best Airport Staff in Central Asia” in 2015.

The airport has an array of luxury lounges with world-class amenities to cater to international and domestic passengers. Terminal 3 of the IGI Airport is particularly renowned for its unconventional interiors that showcase 9 mudras (hand gestures) of the Indian classical dance form and yoga. T3 terminal is also the first to set up a “Pet Fly” facilitation desk to aid passengers in flying their pets.

IGI Airport has been declared “Second Safest Airport” globally for all the safety measures it is taking to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. It has launched the AIR SUVIDHA portal for a hassle-free arrival of the Indian origin international passengers, touchless services and an RT-PCR testing laboratory within the airport premises. 

• Location: New Delhi
• Area: 5106 acres
• Facilities: Free WiFi, ATMs, luxury lounges, currency exchange, duty-free shopping, gifts & souvenirs shops, restaurants & food court, Pet Fly desk, RT-PCR lab.  

Book a safe stay with hotels near IGI Airport.

5 Rajiv Gandhi International Airport

One of the best airports in India, Rajiv Gandhi International Airport caters to the domestic and international air traffic in the Indian state of Telangana. Replacing the Begumpet Airport in 2008, this airport became functional and today it is the sixth busiest airport in India. 

Although constructed recently, RGI Airport has been scaling and expanding to meet the rising demand. It offers numerous amenities to travellers including spas for de-stressing, luxurious waiting lounges, several eating outlets serving global and local cuisine, top brand stores for shopping and also stores for purchasing traditional sarees.

RGI Airport has recently received the coveted Airport Health Accreditation from the ACI for the health and safety measures it had taken for passengers and the staff. Apart from that, it has also set up an exclusive RT-PCR testing lab in its premises to allow any passenger or staff to take a COVID19 test if required. Other safety protocols of social distancing, sanitisation and contactless services are being followed stringently in the airport. 

• Location: Shamshabad
• Area: 5400 acres
• Distance from City Centre: Around 24kms
• Facilities: Free WiFi, ATMs, currency exchange, child care room, RT-PCR testing lab, restaurants & food court.

Book a safe stay with hotels near Rajiv Gandhi International Airport.

6 Dabolim Airport

The only international airport in the party capital of the country, Dabolim Airport or Goa Airport caters to the domestic and international passengers arriving in this gorgeous city. The architecture of the airport is aesthetically pleasing and it has an integrated terminal to handle both domestic and international traffic. Goa Airport provides a host of amenities to all its passengers notable among them being luxury lounges, duty-free stores selling liquor, cigarettes, toiletries, perfumes etc., creatively designed restaurants that capture and depict the vibe of the city – making it one of the best airports in India. 

Goa Airport adheres to all the safety guidelines and social distancing norms apart from conducting a thermal screening of passengers and providing contactless services.

• Location: Dabolim
• Area: 688 acres
• Distance from City Centre: Around 30kms from Panjim
• Facilities: Free WiFi, ATMs, currency exchange, thematic restaurants, duty-free stores, information desk.

Book a safe stay with hotels near Goa International Airport.

7 Pune International Airport

Another member in the list of the best airports in India is Pune International Airport which caters to domestic and the international air-traffic of the western part of the country. Akin to the other airports in India, Pune International Airport, too, offers top-notch facilities to travellers which include duty-free shops selling a wide array of products, information desk with multilingual staff to handle customer queries and more. 

In terms of safety measures for Covid19, the airport follows proper sanitisation of the premises, thermal screening, touch-less check-in process and encourages passengers and staff to wear masks at all times.

• Location: Lohegaon
• Distance from City Centre: Around 10kms from Pune
• Facilities: Free WiFi, ATMs, currency exchange, duty-free stores, child-care rooms, information desk.

Book a safe stay with hotels near Pune International Airport.

8 Cochin International Airport

Cochin Airport is Kerala’s biggest airport and is also the world’s first fully solar-powered airport in the world. Being the eighth busiest airport in India, it caters to millions of domestic and international passengers annually. It won the coveted “Champion of the Earth” award in 2018 for its initiative in reducing the carbon footprint. Cochin International Airport offers some of the best amenities to passengers including luxurious lounges, duty-free stores (it has the largest duty-free store in India – Cochin Duty Free), bookshops and amazing eating outlets.

As part of the COVID19 safety protocols, the airport staff strictly follow social distancing norms, conduct thermal screening, encourage staff and travellers to wear masks at times and had also adopted DRDO’s UV disinfection system to completely disinfect the luggage of international passengers arriving here.

• Location: Nedumbassery
• Area: 1,213 acres
• Distance from City Centre: Around 25kms
• Facilities: Free WiFi, ATMs, currency exchange, coffee kiosks, baggage trolleys, duty-free stores, information desk.

Book a safe stay with hotels near Cochin International Airport.

9 Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport

One of the busiest and best airports in India, Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati is a gateway for passengers who wish to explore northeast India. It is named after the freedom fighter and Assam’s first Chief Minister Gopinath Bordoloi. There are many amenities provided in the airport for travellers which include handicraft emporium, jewellery shop, eating outlets and more.

The airport has taken sufficient safety measures during the coronavirus pandemic which includes conducting Rapid Antigen tests for passengers and delivering the results in 60 minutes, adhering to social distancing norms and providing contactless services to all passengers. 

• Location: Borjhar
• Area: 627 acres
• Distance from City Centre: Around 26kms from Dispur
• Facilities: Free WiFi, ATMs, currency exchange, eating outlets, handicraft emporium, jewellery shops, baggage trolleys, duty-free stores, information desk.

Book a safe stay with hotels near Guwahati International Airport.

10 Sardar Vallabhai Patel International Airport

Sardar Vallabhai Patel International Airport caters to the domestic and international traffic of Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar in Gujarat. In 2017 it won the “Most Improved Airport” Asia-Pacific award and rightfully joined the list of best airports in India. It has 2 premium lounges, one for domestic and another for the international travellers, that promise first-rate amenities. Apart from that, the airport also has duty-free stores, fancy eating outlets and spa services that passengers and can enjoy here. 

To ensure passenger and staff safety, the airport authorities follow protocols like mandatory thermal screening of all passengers, contactless check-in and security checks, and frequent and thorough sanitisation of the airport premises.  

• Location: Borjhar
• Area: 627 acres
• Distance from City Centre: Around 26kms from Dispur
• Facilities: Free WiFi, ATMs, currency exchange, lounges, spa services, duty-free stores.

Book a safe stay with hotels near Ahmedabad International Airport.

Here’s our list of 10 best airports in India. Do you agree with us? Share your views in the comments below.