Click it and Unblock the Notifications
Almost every passenger flying out of Bengaluru dreams of experiencing Terminal-2 at Kempegowda International Airport. Bengaluru is now home to one of the most magnificent airports in the world. But did you know that when India gained independence, Bengaluru didn't even have an airport? Back then, the only way to reach the city was by train or bus.
As we think about India after independence, it's interesting to see how much aviation has changed since then. Let's take a look at the number of airports when the country became independent and how that number has grown over the years.
In 1947, when India gained independence, the country had five international airports. These were located in Bombay, Calcutta, Delhi, Madras, and Karachi. However, after the partition, Karachi International Airport became part of Pakistan.
Airports Established Before Independence
Kolkata Airport
Kolkata Airport, one of India's oldest, opened in 1924. Originally called Calcutta Aerodrome, it was later renamed Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport. The first aircraft to land there was the Dakota 3. In 1924, KLM began scheduled stops at Kolkata on their Amsterdam to Batavia (Jakarta) route. During World War II, the airport played a significant role. In 1942, the United States Army Air Forces' 7th Bombardment Group used B-24 Liberator bombers for missions over Burma from this airport.
Amritsar Airport
Amritsar Airport was established in 1930 during the British era and was initially used for VVIP movements. After independence, it was connected to Delhi and Srinagar, and the first international flight to Kabul began in 1960.
Madras Airport
Located in Tirusulam, about 21 km southwest of Chennai's city center, Madras Airport's first air service began in 1915, and it was officially commissioned in 1930.
Delhi Airport
Delhi Airport was established in 1930. The original 09/27 runway was built by the British and was used during World War II. It measured 2,816 meters long and 60 meters wide.
Mumbai Airport
Mumbai Airport, constructed in the 1930s, was known as RAF Santacruz. It was a larger airfield compared to the nearby Juhu Aerodrome and hosted several RAF squadrons during World War II from 1942 to 1947.
Trivandrum International Airport
Founded in 1932 as part of the Royal Flying Club, Trivandrum International Airport was initiated by Lt. Col. Raja Goda Varman. The first flight took off on November 1, 1935, carrying mail from the Royal Anchal (Travancore Post) to Bombay.
Nagpur Airport
Nagpur Airport was commissioned during World War I in 1917-18 for the RFC/RAF. The facilities were renovated during World War II and used as a staging airfield by the RAF. It was handed over to the Indian Government after the British left.
Airstrips Before Independence That Later Became Airports
Cochin
Kochi's airport started as an airstrip on Willingdon Island, built in 1936 by the Kingdom of Cochin to aid the transportation of officials involved in developing the Cochin Port. During World War II, the British converted this airstrip into a military airport for the Indian Navy.
Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad's airport was established in 1937 and initially handled only domestic flights. It was later named Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport and officially became an international airport on May 23, 2000.
Pune
Founded in 1939 as RAF Pune, this airfield was created to provide air security for Mumbai. During World War II, it hosted squadrons of de Havilland Mosquito, Vickers Wellington bombers, and Supermarine Spitfire fighter aircraft.
Bangalore HAL
HAL Bangalore was originally established in 1942 for military and defense purposes. Domestic operations began in the late 1970s.
Jodhpur
In the 1920s, Maharaja Umaid Singh established the Jodhpur Flying Club at a small airfield near his Chittar Palace (Umaid Bhavan Palace). Over the next thirty years, this airfield became prominent, serving as an airfield for the Royal Air Force (RAF) during World War II. It was upgraded in 1950 after the Royal Indian Air Force, which later became the Indian Air Force, was formed.
Poonch
Poonch was strategically significant due to its access to the Kashmir Valley. During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947, the Pakistan Army surrounded it on November 21, cutting off all communication with the rest of India. Supplies were airdropped, but they were not enough for both the army and 40,000 refugees.
Major Airports in the Post-Independence Era
Several airports were established after independence, including Indore Airport in 1948, Goa International Airport in 1955, Bhubaneswar Airport in 1962, Bhopal Airport in 1968, Dehradun Airport in 1974, and others. In recent years, significant airports like Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru (2008) and Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad (2008) were established.
Present Status of Airports in India
India's aviation landscape has grown significantly, with 157 operational airports today. This includes 33 international airports, 11 customs airports, 113 domestic airports, and 7 joint venture international hubs. Additionally, 85 airports are part of the UDAN Scheme, which aims to enhance regional connectivity.
On any given day, India's skies are bustling with activity. Over 3,025 domestic flights take off and land across the country, while 563 international flights connect Indian cities to the world. Domestic airports see around 877,613 passengers daily, while international airports handle about 211,511 passengers, showcasing the vital role they play in global travel.
