Hyderabad Airport’s aims of expansion before becoming one of India’s busiest

Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) is on the verge of launching new international operations, eyeing to be one of the three biggest airports in India in the years to come. GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited (GHIAL), which operates RGIA, plans to launch several direct flights to international destinations, including the Netherlands, Ethiopia, Vietnam, and Hong Kong, to move ahead of Bengaluru and emerge the third-busiest international airport in India.

GHIAL’s senior officials duly confirmed with Moneycontrol the airport is on the verge of launching talks with several leading international carriers. Services are expected to commence on a soon-to-open corridor between Hyderabad and Amsterdam, hosted by KLM; direct flights between Addis Ababa and Hyderabad are being instituted by Ethiopian Airlines. Cathay Pacific will be operational out of Hong Kong, while Vietnam Airlines is happy to introduce direct flights into Vietnam.

GHIAL extends further into international aviation. It is also in talks with primary U.S. carriers like Air India, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and American Airlines regarding direct flights to some of the primary urban areas in the U.S. Hyderabad ranks third in passenger traffic to the U.S. flight category despite its flights being redirected to other connecting stations, which again brings into perspective the growing importance of the airport for an international aviation hub.

This expansion of airport aspirations is positioned to enhance connectivity for RGIA. In addition to this expectation being met, RGIA is also on a considerably consolidated pathway as a preferred gateway for both passenger and cargo transport. The airport’s growth includes operationalization with these developments underlining the transformation in airport infrastructure, which can spur regional economic development while enhancing its competitiveness both in India and the international aviation market.