November 10th, 2025

Hidden Airports of India: The Next Wave in Business Aviation

Do you still wonder why your private jet still flies to the same congested airports every time? Do you know India harbors over 70 hidden airstrips and underutilized airports that could revolutionize your business travel experience?

This is where India’s business aviation will boom in the near future – The hidden airports.

The Sleeping Giants of Indian Aviation

There is a seismic change in the aviation environment in India. On 21 October 2024, 619 routes on 88 airports were operationalized under the UDAN scheme. It has approximately 70 airstrips that can be transformed into airports matching the narrowbody aircraft.

These are not simply figures on paper, but undiscovered gateways to tier-II and tier-III cities in India that business aviation is just learning to explore.

Unlike in big airports such as Delhi and Mumbai, where millions of people get in and out, causing unavoidable delays and congestion, these undetectable airports lie idle with runways just waiting patiently until they are called upon.

There are 487 airports and airstrips in India, though most business travelers are aware of a dozen.

The UDAN Revolution

The UDAN scheme of the Indian government was initiated in 2016 and seeks to make air travel simple and easy in tier-II and III cities by creating new airports and modernizing the existing regional ones.

But here’s what makes it exciting for business aviation: these developments aren’t just about scheduled commercial flights. They’re creating infrastructure that private jets, best air ambulance services & corporate aircraft can leverage.

In the next 10 years, 120 additional destinations will be part of the scheme that will serve 4 crore more passengers. In the case of business aviation operators, it translates to additional landing opportunities, de-congestion of slots and inaccessible markets.

India’s Hidden Airport Network

Since 2014, airports in the country have totaled 74. By 2024, the count of active airports increased to 157, and it is planned to reach 350-400 by 2047. But what’s truly exciting are the facilities already operational yet significantly underutilized.

Several airports were inaugurated with much fanfare but never really took off due to insufficient passenger demand on scheduled routes.

For business aviation, this is golden. These airports have infrastructure, terminals, runways, air traffic control, but minimal commercial traffic.

There are 16 DGCA-licensed private airports in India, including facilities in

• Bokaro
• Birlagram
• Hosur
• Burnpur
• Baikunth
• Mithapur
• Rourkela
• Raigarh

These corporate-owned airstrips serve industrial giants and are increasingly being explored for business charter operations.

Similar to the time when Juhu was the main airport of the city, it is now exclusively used by general aviation, providing business pilots with an alternative to the congested international airport less than three miles away.

Likewise, the accessible facilities such as Daman, Diu, and Puducherry offer access to the coastal locations that can revolutionize the business itineraries.

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Why Hidden Airports Matter for Your Business

The strategic advantages are compelling.

Time Efficiency

By landing at a regional airport that is a few minutes away from where you are really going, you can save 2-4 hours of ground transportation. You get to Rourkela to visit a manufacturing plant, or to Daman to visit a resort, why come to Kolkata or Mumbai and spend hours getting there?

Operational Flexibility

Large airports run on limited slot schedules. The regional airports continue to be poorly utilized in relation to the significant investment in the construction of facilities, hence, improved access to personal charter flights, air ambulances, and corporate shuttles.

Cost Considerations

Landing and parking charges at tier-II airports are typically lower than at metropolitan hubs. The scheme provides financial concessions, including no landing and parking charges, along with reduced taxes on aviation fuel at RCS airports, making them economically attractive for business aviation.

The Business Aviation Boom: Club One Air’s Perspective

At Club One Air, we’ve witnessed firsthand how India’s business aviation sector is evolving. 

India is the 3rd largest domestic aviation market, after the USA and China and is likely to be the 3rd largest air passenger market by 2030. This expansion does not only pertain to the case of scheduled airlines, but the whole ecosystem, in the sense that you may need to book a private jet to get to some urgent business event, or that you need the air ambulance services of the emergency hospital.

Our aircraft management services have increasingly focused on optimizing routes through these emerging airports. We’ve helped clients discover that flying into Dehradun’s smaller airport for Himalayan business ventures, or utilizing Daman for coastal Gujarat operations, can transform their travel experience.

The real opportunity lies in proactive planning. Awareness of what hidden airports would fit your business zone, understanding their capability, and integrating them in your journey planning can be a tremendous competitive edge.

Challenges and the Road Forward

Let’s be honest: not everything is perfect. Issues include inadequate infrastructure at some facilities and low passenger footfall, making some operations unviable. Certain regional airports do not offer high-fidelity night-landing or sufficient hangar facilities to house aircraft overnights.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation is working on the modalities of public-private partnership in privatizing 25 airports. This involvement by the private sector tends to increase rates of infrastructure enhancement and service quality.

The vision of the government is a big one, but attainable. By 2047, India wishes to possess approximately 300 airports by transforming the already available airstrips into airports and building new ones.

This is unparalleled access to the vast Indian geography for business aviation operators and those frequent flyers.

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Your Next Move

The unrecognized airports of India are not merely infrastructure; they are a potential that needs to be tapped.

At Club One Air, we’re not just following this transformation; we’re actively participating in it. We are thoroughly familiar with the growing network of Indian airports, private airstrips access and focus on safety and quality service.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What are hidden airports, and how many does India have?

A: India has underutilized or lesser-known airstrips and regional airports that are known as hidden airports. 487 airports and airstrips in India are deemed convertible to support the handling of small aircraft and business jets. These facilities are operational to serve several moderate commercial traffic, such that it would be suitable in the case of private aviation.

Q: Can private jets land at regional airports under the UDAN scheme?

A: Yes, absolutely. Although UDAN is more dedicated to scheduled business connectivity, the infrastructure built as part of the scheme, such as renovated runways, terminals, and runway navigation, is accessible to business aviation, charters, and air ambulance flights. Most UDAN airports have lower landing costs and improved slot access as opposed to major hubs.

Q: What are the advantages of using regional airports for business aviation?

A: The main advantages of using regional airports include saving much time since you will have landed nearer to your destination, it will have less congestion and improved slot allocation, it will be cheaper since the landing charges and parking fees will be reduced, more personalised ground handling services, and it will reach the under served business centres and industrial hubs without necessarily having to pass through major cities.

Q: Are hidden airports safe for private jet operations?

A: Yes, so long as they conform to DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) standards. Strict safety provisions have to be adhered to in all operational airports, both the major and regional ones in India. Nevertheless, it is necessary to check certain facilities such as the runway length, the presence of night-landing conditions and the ground support facilities and then organize the operations. Sincere charter operators continuously make serious evaluations.

Q: Which are some notable private or underutilized airports suitable for business aviation?

A: Some of the major underutilized airports are Juhu Airport (Mumbai), used as a general aviation hub, corporate airports in Bokaro, Hosur, and Rourkela, and regional airports in Daman, Diu, Puducherry, and Deoghar. Facilities are also available in Hindon, Jamshedpur and Mysuru, which are strategic locations of specific business corridors with little business traffic congestion.

Q: How will India’s airport expansion by 2047 impact business aviation?

A: The initiative by India to increase the number of airports in the country, which now has 157 operational airports, to 300-400 by 2047, will leave an impressive impact on the ability of business aviation. This growth results in an increase in destinations, less congestion at the major hubs, better systems in tier-II and III cities, and increased flexibility with corporate business travel, medical evacuation, and specialized flight services across the diverse geography of the country.