A complete guide you need to have for the Ahmedabad Airport

Ahmedabad is a bustling city and a major commerce center in the western part of India in Gujarat. It is a hub for businessmen and tourists alike throughout the year. The preferred route of Gujarati businessmen when flying back to India is by flights from Canada to Ahmedabad.  Nestled on the banks of river Sabarmati, the city is connected with other major centers of commerce in the country by rail and road. moreover, the city has a huge demand for air connectivity, and rightly so the city has been served by the Ahmedabad international airport.

Ahmedabad Airport is also known as Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel international airport named after India’s first deputy Prime minister. It is the 8th busiest airport in the country and flights from Canada to Ahmedabad land only here. The airport is located 9 km north of central Ahmedabad in Hansol and serves the twin cities of Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. Moreover, the whole Gujarat region and southern Rajasthan region have been served by the airport. According to the statistics of the year 2018-2019, the Ahmedabad airport caters to around 8.16 million annual passengers. Many major airlines operate to and fro from the Ahmedabad Airport and the airport is connected to both national and international cities in India and abroad through these airlines.

Terminals at Ahmedabad international airport

There are a total of four terminals at the Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel international airport. In addition to terminal 1 and terminal 2, there is a secondary traffic terminal and a cargo terminal.

Terminal 1 is reserved for domestic flights while terminal 2 is for both domestic and international flights.

Domestic terminal

Terminal 1 is wholly dedicated to domestic operations. Both arrivals and departures are dedicated to domestic flights. The terminal covers an area of 4,80,000 sq ft. It has 23 check-in counters. There are a total of 3 gates and 3 X-Ray baggage facilities in total for the passengers. In addition to this, other facilities like restaurants, transport, parking, lounge, hotel counters, etc are also there.

International terminal

Terminal 2 of the Ahmedabad airport is dedicated to international flights including that of flights from Canada to Ahmedabad. It covers an area of 42,000 sq ft. This international terminal was inaugurated and opened for the public in 2010. This terminal has a capacity of accommodating 1600 passengers at a given point in time. It has a total of 30 check-in counters of which 14 are for arrivals and the remaining are for departures. A total of 4 X-Ray baggage facilities are there at terminal 2. Other facilities for the passengers like currency exchange services, food, and drinks, car rental booths, restaurants, etc.

Transportation facilities

Passengers are needed to be transferred from international to domestic and vice versa. So to transfer these passengers, there is an inter-terminal bus service provided on demand. There is also another option if you are willing to travel on foot. There is a 1680 feet long moving walkway that connects from one terminal to another.

Connectivity and transportation to the city

Trains

Ahmedabad railway station is at a distance of 7 km from the airport. If you wish to travel to a different part of the city then you can catch a local train to your desired destination once you reach the Ahmedabad railway station from the airport. There are a total of 15 local stations in Ahmedabad and all are well connected.

Bus

Ahmedabad municipal transport service runs bus services across the city. The bus service connects the airport to different parts of the city. AMTS runs a direct bus between the airport and the bus stand. One needs to walk around 10 minutes to reach the bus stop from the airport. Sardar Nagar is the nearest bus stop. From here one can connect to any region of Ahmedabad. The buses that stop at Sardar Nagar stop are bus line no 101, 105, 16, 106, 107, and 126.

Taxis

Prepaid taxi counters are available at the arrival area of both the domestic and international terminals of the airport. Here you find taxi kiosks and taxis at reasonable prices to the different parts of the city and even long-route taxis to different parts of Gujarat. Taxis are the most widely used and most convenient way of transporting from the airport. Remember to negotiate the fare with the driver.

Car rentals

If you have a knack for driving or prefer to drive then for your service there are car rental kiosks outside the airport at your disposal. The private car rentals provide a handy service that will suit you best.

Car parking

There is a wide area reserved for car parking outside the airport for both visitors of domestic as well as the international airport. For the convenience of the visitors, the parking rate is fixed. The parking fee is calculated on an hourly basis. Whether you stay for 10 minutes or 59 minutes, the rates are the same. Just remember that long term parking rates are quite expensive than hourly rates.

Information desk at the airport

The Sardar Vallabh Bhai international airport has dedicated desks with the professional and friendly staff at your disposal around the clock. This is a major respite for tourists and first-time travelers to the city as their queries are handled in a comprehensive and polite manner.

Other passenger services at the airport

Money issues

Passengers have access to a bank at both the the terminals of the airport. There are ATMs, a post office, a telephone booth, and currency exchange counters lined up to meet the demands of the passengers and keep the passenger at ease. Though the monetary services are available at the airport, they come with a price as you have to shell out a little more when using financial services at the airports.

Business meets

The airport map doesn’t show any dedicated area reserved for business meets. Though there are VIP areas at the international terminal for any short business meet. Moreover, there are airport hotels at Ahmedabad airport like sunset comfort and taj residency where you can head with your team for an important business meeting.

Luggage

There are baggage carts available for free to move luggage at both terminals T1 and T2. there is also a facility for free luggage wrapping at the international terminal. The airport also has free lost and found services for travelers.

Snacks

There are restaurants and cafes available at both terminals for your hunger growls. Traveling can be a tiring experience at times and these cafes come in handy to recharge you with yummy snacks. There are also snack bars at both domestic and international terminals. On top of this, there are tea and coffee vending machines.

Lounges

There are in total 2 lounges at the Ahmedabad international airport. One at the domestic terminal that is T1 and the other at the international terminal that is T2. the name of the domestic lounge is BICA lounge and that of the departures of international destinations is port lounge.

Shopping

If you are fond of shopping or are in habit of collecting souvenirs then terminal 2 of the airport has a dedicated duty-free shopping area.

Medical services

Emergency medical services are available for free at the airport at both terminals. The passenger who somehow develops symptoms can avail the services.

Wifi and other services

Free wifi is available for passengers throughout the airport. Other important services like spa and salon services, pay-per-use massage chairs, mobile charging, etc are also available at the airport.

Nearby airport

Vadodra is the nearby airport in the vicinity of Ahmedabad airport. It is 98 km away from the Ahmedabad airport. Though not international, but Vadodra is well connected to other major cities of India through flights operated by famous carriers such as Indigo, Air India, go air, etc.

FAQs

How many airports are there in and around Gujarat?

There are a total of three airports in and around Ahmedabad. There is Sardar Vallabh Bhai international airport in Ahmedabad. One domestic airport is in Vadodara. One is in Surat.

Which airlines fly to Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel international airport?

There are both domestic and international carriers that fly to Ahmedabad airport. The list is exhaustive and some of the carriers are Spicejet, Indigo, Vistara, Air India, Etihad, Qatar, Emirates, and Singapore airlines.

How much are the parking charges at the Airport?

The parking charges for the first hour are 120 rupees for the four-wheeler and for the two-wheeler, it is 30 rupees. The parking charges are based on an hourly system. After one-hour parking charges for four wheeler are 180 rupees and 60 rupees for two-wheelers. They keep on increasing as the time increases by the same factor.

Does the airport has a dedicated duty free shopping area?

Yes, the airport has dedicated duty free area both at the arrivals and domestic sections of the international terminal where you can happily buy goods at duty free prices.

So this was all about the Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel international airport in Gujarat