Best and Worst Indian Airports Ranked by International Travelers

India welcomes millions of international visitors each year, and the first impression often starts at the airport. Whether you’re arriving in Delhi, Mumbai, or Kochi, your airport experience can influence your entire journey.

In this guide, we rank top Indian airports from best to worst based on reviews from foreign tourists, covering aspects like cleanliness, immigration process, facilities, ease of transfer, signage, and customer support.

🏆 Criteria for Ranking Indian Airports

The following benchmarks were used to rank the airports:

• Ease of immigration and customs
• Cleanliness and hygiene
• Availability of English signage and staff assistance
• Baggage handling efficiency
• Connectivity to local transport or transfers
• Availability of lounges, eateries, Wi-Fi, and rest areas
• Customer reviews and complaint ratios

✈️ Top 5 Indian Airports (Highly Recommended)

1. Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL), Delhi

• Pros: Excellent international terminal (T3), immigration speed, lounges, food court, and Wi-Fi.
• Cons: Can get crowded during peak hours.
• Best For: Seamless international arrivals, airport metro connectivity, and lounge access.

2. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM), Mumbai

• Pros: World-class design, duty-free shopping, and clean restrooms.
• Cons: Long immigration lines during night landings.
• Best For: Transit, short layovers, and business travelers.

3. Kempegowda International Airport (BLR), Bangalore

• Pros: Organized, clean, user-friendly for foreigners, efficient customs.
• Cons: Slightly distant from city center.
• Best For: Tech/business visitors and smooth immigration.

4. Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (HYD), Hyderabad

• Pros: Clean, compact, minimal queues, polite staff.
• Cons: Limited lounge options.
• Best For: First-time India travelers who prefer less crowded options.

5. Cochin International Airport (COK), Kochi

• Pros: First fully solar-powered airport, clean, organized terminal.
• Cons: Smaller terminal; fewer English-speaking staff in domestic section.
• Best For: Tourists visiting Kerala or South India.

⚠️ Mid-Ranked Airports: Mixed Experiences

6. Chennai International Airport (MAA)

• Pros: Good connectivity and basic facilities.
• Cons: Outdated terminals, frequent baggage delays, less helpful signage.
• Note: Improving rapidly with ongoing renovations.

7. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU), Kolkata

• Pros: Efficient staff, improved terminal cleanliness.
• Cons: Aging infrastructure, less signage for foreign tourists.
• Tip: Ideal for travelers heading to Eastern India or Bhutan.

🛑 Bottom-Ranked Airports: Needs Serious Improvement

8. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (AMD), Ahmedabad

• Pros: Basic amenities available, fewer crowds.
• Cons: Old infrastructure, limited international flight handling capacity.
• Warning: Long waits for immigration and less organized baggage services.

9. Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (VNS), Varanasi

• Pros: Close to spiritual destinations like Kashi.
• Cons: Unclean restrooms, minimal foreign assistance, luggage delays.
• Best Avoided If: You need smooth international service.

✍️ Foreign Travelers’ Complaints: What You Should Know

While most major Indian airports have made significant progress, common complaints by foreign travelers include:

• Language barriers with staff
• Confusing terminal transfers between domestic and international
• No signage for currency exchange or SIM card kiosks
• Weak Wi-Fi signals or paid-only access in some terminals
• Insufficient seating or lounge options for long layovers

If you encounter any such issue, you can reach out to Indian Travel Help for airport-specific assistance.

✅ Pro Tips for a Smooth Airport Experience in India

• Download the official app of your arrival airport for real-time gate and baggage updates.
• Pre-book airport transfers instead of relying on local taxis.
• Use prepaid SIM cards available at international terminals.
• Lounge access via Priority Pass or credit cards can ease layovers.
• Don’t forget to keep printed documents handy—some Indian airports still require paper copies for verification.

📞 Need Help Navigating Indian Airports?

Experiencing confusion, baggage issues, or immigration delays at an Indian airport? Don’t panic.

Indian Travel Help is your trusted partner for:

• Airport navigation assistance
• Lost baggage support
• Airport transfer arrangements
• Emergency translation or mediation
• Airport complaint filing help

📩 Contact Indian Travel Help

🌐 Website: www.indiantravelhelp.com
📧 Email: support@indiantravelhelp.com

We’re here to ensure your journey in India begins and ends smoothly.