airport runway under construction - Dholera International Airport: Status and Nearest Airports

Dholera International Airport: Status and Nearest Airports

Dholera International Airport in Gujarat has no scheduled commercial flights that we could confirm. In July 2026 the Union Civil Aviation Minister said the project was about 80% complete and aimed to start operations by September or October, but we found no report of a licence or a first passenger flight. For now, Ahmedabad is the working airport, around 80 km away.

Updated October 2026 · HappyFares

airport runway under construction
Photo: Keegan Checks / Pexels

Dholera is planned as a greenfield airport serving the Dholera Special Investment Region. If you are searching for flights there, this guide explains what is known and what to use instead.

Are there commercial flights to Dholera right now?

We could not confirm any. The airport is still described as under construction in public references, and no source we found at the time of writing reports an aerodrome licence or scheduled passenger service. No airline has a public route listing for it that we could verify. If any listing shows you a Dholera flight, treat it with caution and confirm directly with the airline.

This matters because a target date is not an opening date. Airports need a licence from the aviation regulator and approved airline schedules before the first ticket can legally be sold and flown.

What is the current status of the project?

A government statement reported in mid-July 2026 said construction was about 80% complete. The runway, taxiway and air traffic control tower were reported as fully built, and the passenger terminal was about 75% done. The minister said the aim was to start operations within about three months, which pointed to September or October 2026.

Earlier timelines have slipped. The Union Cabinet approved Phase 1 in June 2022 with a completion window of 48 months, and earlier reports pointed to a 2025 or early 2026 opening. Some property-sector pages claim a trial landing earlier in 2026, but we saw no reliable confirmation, so we leave that out. Reports also differ on whether the first services will be cargo, charter or scheduled passenger flights, and on whether regular passenger flights would start in late 2026 or early 2027.

highway road Gujarat plains
Photo: Dale Mohagan / Pexels

How big will Dholera Airport be?

Public references say the project site covers 1,426 hectares. News reports describe a passenger terminal of about 25,000 square metres with a stated capacity of 20 lakh passengers a year, plus a separate cargo terminal. These are planned figures, not an indication of what flights will actually operate. Phase 1 is the first stage of a larger plan.

Did you know? Greenfield airports are built from scratch on open land, unlike older city airports that grew over decades. Dholera is meant to anchor a planned industrial city, so early traffic may include cargo and business travel rather than leisure trips.

Which airport should you use for Dholera today?

The practical choice is Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Dholera is about 80 km from Ahmedabad by public references, so plan on a road transfer of well over an hour, depending on traffic and route, and ask your driver or hotel for an estimate. Taxis can be pre-booked, and your hotel or the business you are visiting may be able to arrange pickups.

Other Gujarat airports, such as Bhavnagar, may also be within reach by road. We did not verify which airlines currently serve them, so check the airline schedule before you plan around them. Compare total journey time and fares, not only distance on the map.

No Indian airline charges for web check-in or airport check-in, whichever airport you use. If you need assistance at the airport, request it from your airline when you book.

If you are travelling for a site visit or property inspection, avoid building the trip around an opening date. Book a fare that allows changes, since a fixed-date ticket can become a problem if the opening slips again. Set a price alert for Ahmedabad on your dates, and revisit the plan if an airline publicly announces a Dholera schedule. Until then, a confirmed Ahmedabad flight and a pre-booked road transfer is the safest approach, and it also gives you a wide choice of airlines and timings. Check the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Airports Authority of India notices before you finalise anything.

Common Questions

Has Dholera International Airport opened?

We could not confirm that it has. As of late October 2026 we found no report of a licence or scheduled passenger flights.

When will flights start at Dholera?

The minister’s stated aim in July 2026 was September or October 2026. That is a target, and other reports point to a later start. Watch announcements from the Airports Authority of India and the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

How far is Dholera from Ahmedabad?

About 80 km, according to public references. Allow well over an hour by road and confirm the time with your cab operator.

Which airlines will fly to Dholera?

No airline has a confirmed schedule that we could verify. Airlines usually announce routes only after the airport is licensed.

Can I book a flight to Dholera today?

We would not rely on any listing for now. Book to Ahmedabad and arrange a road transfer unless an airline confirms scheduled service to Dholera.

Will Dholera be an international airport?

It carries the name International Airport, but we could not confirm any international routes or an international schedule. Airlines announce routes only after the airport is licensed, so watch for official announcements.

Travelling to the Dholera area? Search and compare flights to Ahmedabad on HappyFares, with zero convenience fee on domestic bookings, price alerts to track fares, and Meera, our AI assistant, to help you plan.

Airport status, routes, rules and fees change; please verify current details with the airline, DGCA, the Airports Authority of India or the airport before you travel.

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