Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (IATA:HYD,ICAO:VOHS) is aninternational airport inIndia that servesHyderabad, the capital of the Indian state ofTelangana. It is located inShamshabad, about 24 kilometres (15 mi) south of Hyderabad and it was opened on 23 March 2008 to replaceBegumpet Airport, which was till then the sole civilian airport serving Hyderabad. It is owned and operated by GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited (GHIAL), apublic–private consortium. It was the first airport in India to launch domestic e-boarding facility in December 2015, followed with international e-boarding facility in October 2020,[4][5][6] and ranked inAirHelp's list of top 10 airports in the world.[7] Thefourth-busiest airport in India by passenger traffic, it handled over 29 million passengers and over 167,660 tonnes (184,810 short tons) of cargo between April 2024 and March 2025.[1][8]
The airport is India's firstgreenfield airport built under a public-private partnership model.[9] It was named afterRajiv Gandhi, the formerPrime Minister of India. Built over an area of 5,500 acres (2,200 ha), it is the largest airport of India by area.[10] The airport has an integrated passenger terminal, a cargo terminal and two runways. There are also aviation training facilities, a fuel farm, asolar power plant and twomaintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) facilities.
The existing commercial airport,Begumpet Airport, was unable to handle rising passenger traffic. The state government initially considered convertingHakimpet Air Force Station to civilian use; however, theAir Force refused.[11] When the State proposed the construction of a new airport for the Air Force, theMinistry of Defence suggested the State consider sites south of Begumpet Airport.[12] By October 1998, the State had narrowed down to three possible locations for the new airport:Bongloor,Nadergul andShamshabad.[13] Due to its convenient location near two highways (NH 44 andNH 765) and a railway line,[12] Shamshabad was selected in December 1998.[14]
In December 2002, Hyderabad International Airport Ltd (HIAL), later renamed GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited (GHIAL), was created as aspecial purpose entity, into which the State, AAI and GMR–MAHB placed their stakes.[12][17]
In September 2003, the members of GHIAL signed ashareholders' agreement, as well as an agreement for state subsidy of over₹4 billion (US$47 million).[12][18] Aconcession agreement between GHIAL and theCentral Government was signed in December 2004, stipulating that no airport within a 150-kilometre (93 mi) radius of RGIA could be operated.[19] Thus, the closure of Begumpet Airport was required.[20]
Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad was the first airport in India to launch a domestic e-boarding facility, in December 2015.The interior of the airport in 2008
The project was forwarded whenY. S. Rajasekhara Reddy gained power and construction began byGMR on 16 March 2005 whenSonia Gandhi laid thefoundation stone.[21] Two days prior, the Central Government had named the airport after former Prime MinisterRajiv Gandhi,[22] who had undergone pilot training in Hyderabad.[23] The naming resulted in opposition from theTelugu Desam Party (TDP). At Begumpet Airport, the international terminal was named after Rajiv Gandhi while the domestic terminal was named after TDP founderN. T. Rama Rao; TDP wanted to continue this naming convention at the new airport. However, the new airport has only one terminal.[24]
Roughly three years after the foundation stone laying ceremony, the airport was inaugurated on 14 March 2008 amid protests. TDP repeated its demand for the naming of the domestic terminal.[23] In addition, on 12 and 13 March, 20,000 AAI employees had conducted a strike against the closure of Begumpet Airport, as well as that ofHAL Airport in Bangalore, fearing they would lose their jobs.[25][26]
RGIA was originally scheduled to open to commercial operations on 16 March 2008; however, the date was delayed due to protests from some airlines over the highground handling rates at the airport. Once the rates were reduced, the launch date was set for 23 March 2008.[27] AlthoughLufthansa Flight 752 fromFrankfurt was scheduled to be the first flight to land at RGIA, twoSpiceJet flights landed earlier.[28] However, the Lufthansa flight still received the planned ceremonial welcome upon its 12:25 am arrival.[28][29]
Rajiv Gandhi International Airport reassigned the IATA airport code,HYD, fromBegumpet Airport after the previous airport ceased international commercial flights.
In September 2011,SpiceJet launched its regional hub at RGIA, using its newBombardier Q400 aircraft.[30] The airline, which chose Hyderabad due to its central location in the country,[31] flies to severalTier-II and Tier-III cities from the airport.[32] Regional airlineTruJet too opened a hub at RGIA upon commencing operations in July 2015.[33]
In November 2014, theMinistry of Civil Aviation resolved that the domestic terminal of RGIA would be named afterN. T. Rama Rao, resulting in protests from members of theRajya Sabha.[34][35] Airport officials remained unsure as to how the naming would occur.[36]
RGIA is owned and operated by GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd (GHIAL), apublic–private venture. It is composed of the private firm,GMR Group (74%) and the public entities,Airports Authority of India (13%) and theGovernment of Telangana (13%). Previously, GMR Group had a consortium withMalaysia Airports Holdings Berhad, in which it held a share of 11% and GMR Group shared 63% in owning the airport.[37] Per the concession agreement between GHIAL and the Central Government, GHIAL has the right to operate the airport for 30 years, with the option to continue doing so for another 30 years.[38] In May 2022, the Central Government extended the concession agreement term of GHIAL from 23 March 2038, up to 22 March 2068.[9] In October 2023, GMR Group informed in a release announcing the signing of Sales and Purchase Agreement (SPA) that it had decided to acquire the 11% stake of Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad, thus raising its overall stake to 74%.[39][40] Hence, Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad withdrew from the ownership, and GMR Group took over its stake in January 2024.[41]
The airport is spread over 2,200 hectares (5,500 acres). Out of which 810 hectares (2,000 acres) have been developed towards airport needs which mainly constitutes 690 hectares (1,700 acres) of land is airside and 120 hectares (300 acres) of land is landside facilities. The remaining 1,414 hectares (3,495 acres) is expansion of the airport. No further land will be acquired. The airport is fully planned within 2,200 hectares (5,500 acres).[42]
Runway 09L/27R: 3,707 by 45 metres (12,162 ft × 148 ft)
Runway 09R/27L: 4,260 by 60 metres (13,980 ft × 200 ft),ILS equipped
Runway 09R/27L, the original and primary runway, is long enough to be able to receive theAirbus A380 which is the world's largest passenger aircraft.[44] Originally a taxiway, runway 09L/27R was inaugurated in February 2012. Its length is shorter than the main runway and able to handle aircraft such as theAirbus A340 andBoeing 747. It is mainly used when runway 09R/27L is undergoing maintenance, and as air traffic to the airport rises it will be used more often.[45] North of these runways are the threeparking aprons: the cargo, passenger terminal and MRO aprons. The passenger terminal apron contains parking stands on both the north and south sides of the terminal. Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad was the first international airport in south India to have a parallel runway at the time of inauguration of the second runway in February 2012 respectively.
The original terminal was designed to handle 12 million passengers. It had a built-up area of 117,000 m2 (1,260,000 sq ft). In November 2023, the terminal was expanded towards the eastern side and in September 2024, the terminal was expanded towards western side. Its total operational area is 379,370 m2 (4,083,500 sq ft). With the expanded terminal, the passenger capacity has been increased to 40 million passengers per annum. The expanded area now has 56 remote bus domestic departure gates and arrival facilities, 44 passenger boarding aero bridges, contact stands, and a domestic-to-domestic (D-D) transfer area. Furthermore, this area is equipped with three ATRS machines, one screening machine and 12 departure gates.[46] The western side of the terminal handles international flights while the eastern side is for domestic operations.[47] After expansion of the terminal in November 2023, there are 20 immigration counters and 87 check-in desks with 14 kiosks for self check-in. There are ten baggage claim belts with a total running length of 840 meters with seven for Domestic and three for International.[48] Publiclounge facilities are provided by Encalm Lounge, which operates three lounges in the terminal; there are also three separate lounges for VIPs.[49] The pre-security "airport village" is a meeting point for passenger pick-up.[47]
The terminal supports entry through theDigi Yatra check-in system.
TheMRO operated by GMR Aero Technic Ltd is one of two MROs at the airport. Built at a cost of₹3.5 billion (US$41 million) and inaugurated in March 2012,[154] the facility can handle up to five aircraft simultaneously.[155] Initially, the MRO was a joint venture between GMR Group and Malaysian Aerospace Engineering (MAE), a subsidiary ofMalaysia Airlines. However, amid its parent's poor financial situation following theMalaysia Airlines Flight 370 incident, MAE was unable to fund the MRO, which had been accruing losses.[156] GMR bought out MAE's stake in December 2014.[citation needed]
GMR Aero Technic Ltd is the only one MRO in private sector inIndia with extensive capability to maintainAirbus A320,Boeing 737, ATR 72/42 and Bombardier DHC Q400 aircraft. GMR Aero Technic is a world class aircraft maintenance organisation approved byEASA andDirectorate General of Civil Aviation (India) and various civil aviation authorities and one of the few MROs certified for AS9110 standards inSouth East Asia region.[157]
The other MRO is operated by Air India Engineering Services Limited (AIESL), a subsidiary ofAir India. Spread over 2 hectares (5 acres), the facility cost₹79 crore (US$9.3 million) to construct and was opened in May 2015.[158][159]
The cargo terminal is located west of the passenger terminal. It covers 14,330 square metres (154,200 sq ft) and can handle 150,000 tonnes (170,000 short tons) of cargo annually.[160] The terminal is operated by Hyderabad Menzies Air Cargo Pvt Ltd, a joint venture between GHIAL (51%) andMenzies Aviation (49%).[161] Within the terminal is the Pharma Zone, a temperature-controlled facility designed for storingpharmaceuticals. The first such facility to be opened at an Indian airport, it is important to RGIA as pharmaceuticals account for 70% of exports from the airport.[161][162] In May 2011,Lufthansa Cargo launched its first pharma hub at the airport.[163]
The airport has a fuel farm consisting of six storage tanks of which 4 are filled, with a total capacity for 13,500 kilolitres (480,000 cu ft) ofjet fuel. The tanks are connected to the apron via underground pipelines.[44]Reliance Industries built and operates the farm, which can be used by any oil company under an open-access model.[164]
In January 2016, GHIAL commissioned a 5 MWsolar power plant near RGIA, which will be used to serve the airport's energy needs. It was built over 9.7 hectares (24 acres) at a cost of₹300 million (US$3.5 million).[165] Over the following two to three years, the capacity of the plant will be raised to 30 MW, allowing RGIA to become fully solar powered.[166]
TheNovotel Hyderabad Airport, located 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi) from RGIA, was opened in October 2008. The hotel includes 305 rooms, two restaurants and a lounge foraircrew.[167] It was initially owned by GHIAL before being shifted to subsidiary GMR Hotels and Resorts Ltd. Owing to high losses from low occupancy,[168] GMR began seeking buyers of the hotel in August 2015.[169]
Kartainment is a professional racing and recreational Go-Karting track located in the GMR Rajiv Gandhi Hyderabad International Airport, Shamshabad.[170] It is made up of 900 meter professional track and 600 meter recreational Go-Karting track.
In April 2021,GMR Group announced the launch of GMR Hyderabad Airport City,[172] which is proposed to be the largestaerotropolis in India spread across 1,500-acre (6.1 km2) around Rajiv Gandhi International Airport,[173] and is being billed as an "integrated ecosystem covering Office Space, Retail, Leisure, Entertainment, Hospitality, Education, Healthcare, Aerospace & Logistics".
RGIA is connected to the city of Hyderabad byNH 44, NH 765 and theOuter Ring Road. In October 2009, thePV Narasimha Rao Expressway was completed betweenMehdipatnam and Aramghar, where it joins NH 44. This long flyover which is 13 km has reduced travel time between the airport and the city to 30–40 minutes and also provides three entry and exit points.[174]
The "Pushpak – Airport Liner" service of theTelangana State Road Transport Corporation provides bus transportation to different parts of the city.[175] It was launched in December 2012 to replace GMR's Aero Express service.[176]
Under the second phase of theHyderabad Metro Rail project, a 31-kilometre (19 mi) rail link betweenRaidurg and RGIA will be constructed.[177] As of late 2015, feasibility studies on the phase are underway.[178][179] In August 2019,K. T. Rama Rao said that state cabinet has approved theHyderabad Airport Metro Express Link fromRaidurg to the airport.[180] The alignment toShamshabad RGI Airport from theRaidurg metro station will be passing over Bio-diversity Junction, through Roda Mistry college lane, Khajaguda Junction. The 31 km-longHyderabad Airport Metro Express link will cost around₹ 6250 crore.[181] In September 2021, GMR Group, the company operating the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) in Hyderabad said that it will invest₹ 519.52 crore towards metro connectivity at the airport.[182][183] During foundation laying ceremony on 9 December 2022,GMR Group contributed₹625 crore (US$74 million), or 10 per cent of the project's cost.[184][185]
This plan was later scrapped due to the change in government. The route was rerouted to the new line being built in Phase-II. This new line would begin in Nagole and go through Chandrayangutta before coming to RGIA.[186]
In 2009, GHIAL decided to postpone the second phase due to lower growth in passenger traffic than anticipated.[189][190] The phase was revived in late 2015, as the airport is expected to reach its capacity in 2016.[191] The first leg of this phase will bring the capacity to 18 million passengers annually, and the second leg will raise it to 20 million.[192] The passenger terminal will be enlarged with additional security lanes, check-in counters and other facilities, and solar panels will be built on the roof.[193] In October 2017, GHIAL CEO SGK Kishore confirmed that the airport expansion would start by January 2018, and it is expected to be completed by the end of 2019.The passenger terminal is being expanded to handle 34 million passengers per year.[194] But due to the ongoingCOVID-19 pandemic, which caused lockdowns, restrictions and curfews, it resulted in lack of labour and delays in work. Construction work has resumed as of mid 2021, and now it is expected to be completed by 2023.
In the midst of the expansion to 25 million, the grant for the 50 million PPA expansion was awarded.[195] The master plan of the airport involves construction of new runways and the terminal on the north side of the airport approach road which replicates the existing runways and terminal on the south of approach road. New cross taxiways will be built on east & west of terminals connecting the runways on north and south of the approach road. The approach road tunnel will be built under the new taxiways which allows free flow of traffic entering airport from ORR/Bangalore Highway junction and Srisailam Highway as well.[196] The final phase of expansion will increase the terminal capacity to 80 million passengers annually.[192]
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