Rajiv Gandhi International Airport

Planning (1991–2004)

The existing commercial airport, Begumpet Airport, was unable to handle rising passenger traffic. The State Government initially considered converting Hakimpet Air Force Station to civilian use; however, the Air Force refused.[11] When the State proposed the construction of a new airport for the Air Force, the Ministry 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 and Shamshabad.[13] Due to its convenient location near two highways (NH 44 and NH 765) and a railway line,[12] Shamshabad was selected in December 1998.[14]

In November 2000, under the N. Chandrababu Naidu government and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) signed a memorandum of understanding on the greenfield airport project, establishing it as a public–private partnership.[15] The State and AAI together would hold a 26% stake in the project, while the remaining 74% would be allotted to private companies.[16] Through a bidding process the consortium consisting of Grandhi Mallikarjuna Rao (GMR Group) and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad was as the holder of the 74% stake.[12][16]

In December 2002, Hyderabad International Airport Ltd (HIAL), later renamed GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited (GHIAL), was created as a special purpose entity, into which the State, AAI and GMR–MAHB placed their stakes.[12][17]

In September 2003, the members of GHIAL signed a shareholders' agreement, as well as an agreement for state subsidy of over inr 4000000000.[12][18] A concession agreement between GHIAL and the Central Government was signed in December 2004, stipulating that no airport within a 150 km radius of RGIA could be operated.[19] Thus, the closure of Begumpet Airport was required.[20]

Construction and opening (2005–2008)

The project was forwarded when Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy gained power and construction began by GMR on 16 March 2005 when Sonia Gandhi laid the foundation stone.[21] Two days prior, the Central Government had named the airport after former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi,[22] who had undergone pilot training in Hyderabad.[23] The naming resulted in opposition from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP). At Begumpet Airport, the international terminal was named after Rajiv Gandhi while the domestic terminal was named after TDP founder N. 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 of HAL 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 high ground handling rates at the airport. Once the rates were reduced, the launch date was set for 23 March 2008.[27] Although Lufthansa Flight 752 from Frankfurt was scheduled to be the first flight to land at RGIA, two SpiceJet 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, from Begumpet Airport after the previous airport ceased international commercial flights.

Later developments (2009–present)

In September 2011, SpiceJet launched its regional hub at RGIA, using its new Bombardier Q400 aircraft.[30] The airline, which chose Hyderabad due to its central location in the country,[31] flies to several Tier-II and Tier-III cities from the airport.[32] Regional airline TruJet too opened a hub at RGIA upon commencing operations in July 2015.[33]

In November 2014, the Ministry of Civil Aviation resolved that the domestic terminal of RGIA would be named after N. T. Rama Rao, resulting in protests from members of the Rajya Sabha.[34][35] Airport officials remained unsure as to how the naming would occur.[36]

Structure

The airport is spread over 5500 acre. Out of which 2000 acre have been developed towards airport needs which mainly constitutes 1700 acre of land is airside and 300 acre of land is landside facilities. The remaining 3495 acre is expansion of the airport. No further land will be acquired. The airport is fully planned within 5500 acre.[42]

Runways

The airport has two runways:[43]

Runway 09R/27L, the original and primary runway, is long enough to be able to receive the Airbus 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 the Airbus A340 and Boeing 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 three parking 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.

• Runway 09L/27R: 3707 x
• Runway 09R/27L: 4260 x, ILS equipped

Terminal

The original terminal was designed to handle 12 million passengers. It had a built-up area of 117,000 m2. 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 379370 m2. 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] Public lounge 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 the Digi Yatra check-in system.

Air Traffic Control

The Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) stands at a height of 75 m.[50]

Passenger

Cargo

Aviation training

The GMR Aviation Academy is located in the park. It was established in 2009 in co-operation with the International Air Transport Association (IATA), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Airports Council International (ACI) and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The academy offers programmes related to airport operations, which are accredited by the listed organisations.[165][166] The park also includes the Asia Pacific Flight Training (APFT) academy, an initiative of GMR Group and Asia Pacific Flight Training. Launched in 2013, it provides pilot training courses.[167][168]

GMR Aero Technic Ltd MRO

The MRO operated by GMR Aero Technic Ltd is one of two MROs at the airport. Built at a cost of inr 3500000000 and inaugurated in March 2012,[169] the facility can handle up to five aircraft simultaneously.[170] Initially, the MRO was a joint venture between GMR Group and Malaysian Aerospace Engineering (MAE), a subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines. However, amid its parent's poor financial situation following the Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 incident, MAE was unable to fund the MRO, which had been accruing losses.[171] GMR bought out MAE's stake in December 2014.

GMR Aero Technic Ltd is the only one MRO in private sector in India with extensive capability to maintain Airbus A320, Boeing 737, ATR 72/42 and Bombardier DHC Q400 aircraft. GMR Aero Technic is a world class aircraft maintenance organisation approved by EASA and Directorate General of Civil Aviation (India) and various civil aviation authorities and one of the few MROs certified for AS9110 standards in South East Asia region.[172]

Air India MRO

The other MRO is operated by Air India Engineering Services Limited (AIESL), a subsidiary of Air India. Spread over 5 acre, the facility cost inr 790000000 to construct and was opened in May 2015.[173][174]

Cargo terminal

The cargo terminal is located west of the passenger terminal. It covers 14330 m2 and can handle 150000 t of cargo annually.[175] The terminal is operated by Hyderabad Menzies Air Cargo Pvt Ltd, a joint venture between GHIAL (51%) and Menzies Aviation (49%).[176] Within the terminal is the Pharma Zone, a temperature-controlled facility designed for storing pharmaceuticals. 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.[176][177] In May 2011, Lufthansa Cargo launched its first pharma hub at the airport.[178]

Fuel farm

The airport has a fuel farm consisting of six storage tanks of which 4 are filled, with a total capacity for 13500 kl of jet 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.[179]

Solar power plant

In January 2016, GHIAL commissioned a 5 MW solar power plant near RGIA, which will be used to serve the airport's energy needs. It was built over 24 acre at a cost of inr 300000000.[180] 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.[181]

Airport hotel

The Novotel Hyderabad Airport, located 3.5 km from RGIA, was opened in October 2008. The hotel includes 305 rooms, two restaurants and a lounge for aircrew.[182] It was initially owned by GHIAL before being shifted to subsidiary GMR Hotels and Resorts Ltd. Owing to high losses from low occupancy,[183] GMR began seeking buyers of the hotel in August 2015.[184]

Kartainment Go Karting Track

Kartainment is a professional racing and recreational Go- Karting track located in the GMR Rajiv Gandhi Hyderabad International Airport, Shamshabad.[185] It is made up of 900 meter professional track and 600 meter recreational Go-Karting track.

Aero Plaza

Aero Plaza is located within the main terminal of the airport. Spread over two floors, it was inaugurated in 2022.[186]

GMR Aerocity Hyderabad

In April 2021, GMR Group announced the launch of GMR Hyderabad Airport City,[187] which is proposed to be the largest aerotropolis in India spread across 1500 acre around Rajiv Gandhi International Airport,[188] and is being billed as an "integrated ecosystem covering Office Space, Retail, Leisure, Entertainment, Hospitality, Education, Healthcare, Aerospace & Logistics".

Road

RGIA is connected to the city of Hyderabad by NH 44, NH 765 and the Outer Ring Road. In October 2009, the PV Narasimha Rao Expressway was completed between Mehdipatnam 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.[189]

The "Pushpak – Airport Liner" service of the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation provides bus transportation to different parts of the city.[190] It was launched in December 2012 to replace GMR's Aero Express service.[191]

Metro

Under the second phase of the Hyderabad Metro Rail project, a 31 km rail link between Raidurg and RGIA will be constructed.[192] As of late 2015, feasibility studies on the phase are underway.[193][194] In August 2019, K. T. Rama Rao said that state cabinet has approved the Hyderabad Airport Metro Express Link from Raidurg to the airport.[195] The alignment to Shamshabad RGI Airport from the Raidurg metro station will be passing over Bio-diversity Junction, through Roda Mistry college lane, Khajaguda Junction. The 31 km-long Hyderabad Airport Metro Express link will cost around ₹ 6250 crore.[196] 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.[197][198] During foundation laying ceremony on 9 December 2022, GMR Group contributed inr 6250000000, or 10 per cent of the project's cost.[199][200]

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.[201]

The closest Indian Railways station is Umdanagar, which is 6 km from the airport.[202][203]