Smartkabadi at 17:02, 31 January 2026

2026-01-31T17:02:40Z

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{{Short description|Airport in Hyderabad, India}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2015}}

{{For|the main airport in Hyderabad|Rajiv Gandhi International Airport}}{{Infobox airport
| name = Begumpet Airport
| image = Airport, Terminal JP6932691.jpg
| IATA = BPM
| ICAO = VOHY
| type = Military/Public
| owner-oper = [[Airports Authority of India]]
| city-served = [[Hyderabad]]
| location = [[Begumpet]], [[Telangana]], India
| opened = {{start date|1936|06}}
| passenger_services_ceased = {{end date|2008|03|23|df=y}}
| elevation-f = 1,744
| elevation-m = {{convert|1744|ft|0|disp=number}}
| coordinates = {{coord|17|27|11|N|078|28|03|E|type:airport|display=inline,title}}
| r1-number = 09/27
| r1-length-f = {{convert|3230|m|0|disp=number}}
| r1-length-m = 3,230
| r1-surface = Macadam
| metric-elev = yes
| metric-rwy = yes
}}

'''Begumpet Airport''' {{Airport codes|BPM|VOHY}} is an airport that serves [[Hyderabad]] in [[Telangana]], India. It is located in [[Begumpet]] and caters to [[General aviation|general]] and military aviation. The airport is home to the Begumpet Air Force Station of the [[Indian Air Force]]. Begumpet was built by the [[Princely State of Hyderabad]] in the 1930s and served as the city's commercial airport for several decades. It eventually became overcrowded, with little room for expansion. After the opening of [[Rajiv Gandhi International Airport]] in [[Shamshabad, Hyderabad|Shamshabad]] on 23 March 2008, Begumpet ceased all commercial operations.

== History ==
In 1934–1935, [[Mir Osman Ali Khan]], the last [[nizam]] of the [[Princely State of Hyderabad]], decided to establish an airport in Begumpet on the outskirts of [[Hyderabad]].<ref name="th308e">{{cite news | title=One thing the seventh Nizam dreaded the most | work=The Hindu | date=13 March 2008 | author=Ifthekhar, J. S.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.95469/ | title=Report on the Administration of H.E.H. the Nizam's Dominions for the Year 1344 Fasli (6th October 1934 A.D. to 6th October 1935 A.D.) | publisher=Government Central Press | year=1938 | page=84}}</ref> The [[Hyderabad State Aero Club]] was inaugurated at Begumpet in June 1936,<ref name="yb40" /> and [[Dürrüşehvar Sultan|Princess Dürrüşehvar]] laid the foundation stone for a terminal building five months later.<ref>{{cite journal | title=Hyderabad's new airport | journal=Great Britain and the East | volume=47 | date=26 November 1936 | page=787}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Progressive princess of Hyderabad | work=The Hindu | date=3 November 2018 | author=Seshan, K. S. S. | id={{ProQuest|2128393760}}}}</ref> In 1937, [[Air India#Early years (1932–1945)|Tata]]'s service from Karachi to Madras began operating via Begumpet instead of the [[Hakimpet Air Force Station|Hakimpet airfield]].<ref name="yb40">{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.102928/ | title=H.E.H. the Nizam's Government Statistical Year Book 1349 Fasli (1940 A. D.) (With Comparative Statistics from 1344 Fasli) | publisher=Government Central Press | author=Hussain, Mazhar | year=1943 | page=865}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | title=Hyderabad State Aero Club: Flying Report for April 1937 | journal=Indian & Eastern Motors | year=1937 | volume=29 | pages=272–273}}</ref> The following year, the Nizam's State Railways Air Department introduced flights from Madras to Bangalore via Hyderabad. The route ceased at the onset of the [[Second World War]].<ref name="oup23">{{cite book | url=https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780192864208.003.0005 | title=The Aeroplane and the Making of Modern India | publisher=Oxford University Press | author=Iqbal, Aashique Ahmed | year=2023 | pages=191–192 | doi=10.1093/oso/9780192864208.003.0005 | isbn=978-0-19-286420-8}}</ref> Service to Bangalore resumed for a brief period in 1940.<ref name="ie546" /> The airport was among the most developed in India at the time of the war.<ref name="oup23" />

During the war, the state government granted control of Begumpet to the Directorate of Civil Aviation.<ref name="oup23" /> The [[Royal Air Force]] took over and set up a flying school in 1942.<ref name="oup23" /><ref>{{cite web | url=https://indianairforce.nic.in/training-command/ | title=Training command | work=Indian Air Force | accessdate=1 September 2024 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207000409/https://indianairforce.nic.in/training-command/ | archivedate=7 December 2021}}</ref> In May 1946, the maiden flight of [[Deccan Airways]] from Begumpet to Bangalore took place.<ref name="ie546">{{cite news | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_6s-AAAAIBAJ&pg=PA5 | title=Deccan Airways inaugurated | work=The Indian Express | date=25 May 1946 | accessdate=26 February 2024 | page=5}}</ref> The airline operated India's first [[Hajj]] flight from the airport five months later.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/1st-haj-flight-took-off-with-just-18-pilgrims/articleshow/65145510.cms | title=1st Haj flight took off with just 18 pilgrims | work=The Times of India | date=26 July 2018 | accessdate=26 February 2024 | author=Akbar, Syed}}</ref> As of 1948, civilian flights to Hyderabad landed at Hakimpet while expansion work was underway at Begumpet.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.85207/ | title=The Hyderabad Government Bulletin on Economic Affairs | publisher=Hyderabad State Government | year=1947–1948 | volume=1 | editor=Iyengar, S. Kesava | page=686}}</ref> In May 1950, commercial airlines moved to Begumpet.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nLw-AAAAIBAJ&pg=PA2 | title=Begumpet Aerodrome opened to scheduled services | work=The Indian Express | date=9 May 1950 | accessdate=26 February 2024 | page=2}}</ref>

Work on the runway to enable it to handle [[Sud Aviation Caravelle|Caravelle]] jets was finished in 1965.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/cftri.timesofindiadire0000njna/ | title=The Times of India Directory & Yearbook, Including Who's Who | year=1967 | editor=Nanporia, N. J. | page=252| publisher=The Times of India Press }}</ref> In the 1970s, [[Indian Airlines]] linked Hyderabad to seven cities in the country and used Caravelles on flights to Bombay.<ref>{{cite journal | title=Effective 1st April, 1977 (Updated 4.7.77) | journal=Indian Airlines Schedules | pages=[https://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/ic/ic77/ic77-1.jpg Route map], [https://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/ic/ic77/ic77-2.jpg table 2]}}</ref> A new terminal was completed in 1972,<ref>{{cite news | title=Helping city soar to greater heights | work=The Hindu | date=7 March 2008 | author=Srinivas, M.}}</ref> and Begumpet handled 250,000 passengers in 1975.<ref>{{cite book | title=Airports of the World | publisher=Putnam | author=Stroud, John | year=1980 | location=London | page=166 | isbn=9780370300375}}</ref> The airport had international flights to Sharjah and Kuwait in the 1990s.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/specials/iaf-grounds-hyderabad-international-airport-plan-197051201049_1.html | title=IAF Grounds Hyderabad International Airport Plan | work=Business Standard | date=12 May 1997 | accessdate=1 September 2024 | author=Ahmed, M. | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422002735/http://www.business-standard.com/article/specials/iaf-grounds-hyderabad-international-airport-plan-197051201049_1.html | archivedate=22 April 2016}}</ref>

In the 1990s, the [[government of Andhra Pradesh]] decided to build a new airport for Hyderabad. Officials ultimately chose a site in [[Shamshabad]], {{convert|30|km|0}} from the city.<ref name="bs305">{{cite news | url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/work-on-hyd-intl-airport-to-start-on-march-16-105031501031_1.html | title=Work on Hyd intl airport to start on March 16 | work=Business Standard | date=2005-03-15 | accessdate=26 February 2024 | author=Reddy, B. Dasarath}}</ref> Passenger counts were climbing quickly at Begumpet, and the terminal was inadequate.<ref name="bl506">{{cite news | title=Promise of world-class experience | work=The Hindu BusinessLine | date=2006-05-15 | author=P. V., Sivakumar}}</ref> There was little room to expand the airport as the development of the surrounding areas meant that Begumpet was now in the middle of the city.<ref name="ht308">{{cite news | title=Now kids play cricket at Hyderabad's old airport | work=Hindustan Times | date=28 March 2008 | agency=Indo-Asian News Service | id={{ProQuest|470318367}}}}</ref> The growth of Hyderabad's information technology and pharmaceutical industries added more pressure to construct a new airport.<ref name="bl506" /> In 2004, the Indian government signed a [[concession agreement]] with the consortium building the Shamshabad airport that required commercial operations at Begumpet to cease when the new airport opened.<ref name="bs305" /><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/centre-confirms-closure-of-hyd-s-old-airport-108031100040_1.html | title=Centre confirms closure of Hyd's old airport | work=Business Standard | date=2008-03-11 | accessdate=26 February 2024}}</ref>

In February 2005, [[Lufthansa]] commenced a nonstop flight between Hyderabad and Frankfurt,<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.rediff.com/money/2005/feb/18flight.htm | title=Lufthansa starts Hyderabad-Frankfurt service | work=Rediff | date=18 February 2005 | agency=Press Trust of India | accessdate=23 May 2021}}</ref> and [[Air Sahara]] opened a hub at the airport.<ref>{{cite news | title=Air Sahara's Hyderabad hub inaugurated | work=Hindustan Times | date=2005-02-05 | id={{ProQuest|470586307}}}}</ref> The [[Airports Authority of India]] responded to the rising traffic by adding another jet bridge and five parking stands.<ref>{{cite news | title=Begumpet airport to get one more aero-bridge | work=The Hindu | date=2006-06-30 | author=Srinivas, M.}}</ref> Between April 2006 and March 2007, 5.8 million travellers passed through the airport, a 44% increase over the previous year.<ref name="third">{{cite web | url=http://www.aai.aero/traffic_news/mar2k7annex3.pdf | title=Annexure III: Traffic Statistics | publisher=Airports Authority of India | date=March 2007 | accessdate=11 July 2021 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120153555/http://www.aai.aero/traffic_news/mar2k7annex3.pdf | archivedate=20 January 2013}}</ref> The final passenger flight to take off from Begumpet was a [[Thai Airways International]] flight to Bangkok at 00:25 on 23 March 2008. [[Rajiv Gandhi International Airport]] opened the same day.<ref>{{cite news | title=Begumpet Airport slips into annals of history | work=The Hindu | date=2008-03-23 | author=Srinivas, M.}}</ref> When scheduled service ended, Begumpet was the sixth busiest airport in India and was served by 10 Indian and 13 foreign airlines.<ref name="ht308" />

== Facilities and operations ==
The airport has one runway named 09/27. It measures {{convert|3230|x|45|m}} and is made of macadam.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://aim-india.aai.aero/eaip-v2-02-2024/index-en-GB.html | title=Aeronautical Information Publication for Begumpet | work=Airports Authority of India | date=2024-01-11 | accessdate=29 February 2024}}</ref>

Begumpet is used for flight training and houses an [[Indian Air Force|air force]] station. Businesspeople, politicians, and others fly into the airport on their private aircraft.<ref>{{cite news | title=Begumpet airport turns a boon for tycoons | work=The Hindu | date=2009-01-05 | author=Srinivas, M.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=IAF Training Command chief visits Air Force Station | work=The Hindu | date=2022-11-26 | id={{ProQuest|2740097609}}}}</ref> Begumpet also hosts [[Wings India]], the country's first [[civil aviation|civilian]] air show. The biennial event is organised by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and Airports Authority of India. It was first held in October 2008 under the name India Aviation.<ref>{{cite news | title=India Aviation show proves a big hit | work=The Hindustan Times | date=2008-10-18 | agency=Indo-Asian News Service | author=Shafeeq, Mohammed | id={{ProQuest|471446306}}}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Major airlines, officials give Hyderabad's Wings India aero show a miss | work=Mint | date=2018-03-10 | id={{ProQuest|2012330275}}}}</ref>

During the period of commercial operations, Begumpet was officially called Hyderabad Airport and had two terminals. The domestic terminal was named for [[N. T. Rama Rao]]; the international one, for [[Rajiv Gandhi]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.aai.aero/allAirports/hyderabad_generalinfo.jsp | title=Hyderabad Airport | work=Airports Authority of India | accessdate=29 February 2024 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071121234220/http://www.aai.aero/allAirports/hyderabad_generalinfo.jsp | archivedate=2007-11-21}}</ref>

==Accidents and incidents==
*On the night of 12 January 1978, an [[Indian Airlines]] [[Boeing 737-200]] operating a flight from Bombay to Hyderabad had just touched down when the crew saw a man on the runway. The aircraft struck him, and he died on the way to a hospital. The investigation determined that the man had breached security at Begumpet Airport.<ref name="dgca">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Accident Summary 1978|url=https://dgca.gov.in/digigov-portal/?page=jsp/dgca/InventoryList/dataReports/accidentIncidentData/summary/Accident%20Summary%201978.PDF&main4273/4208/servicename|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513232801/https://www.dgca.gov.in/digigov-portal/?page=jsp/dgca/InventoryList/dataReports/accidentIncidentData/summary/Accident%20Summary%201978.PDF&main4273/4208/servicename |archive-date=13 May 2021 |access-date=2020-11-25|website=dgca.gov.in|publisher=[[Directorate General of Civil Aviation (India)|Directorate General of Civil Aviation]]}}</ref>

== References ==
<references />

== External links ==
{{commons category|Begumpet Airport}}
* {{portal-inline|Aviation}}
* {{portal-inline|Hyderabad}}
* {{Official website|https://www.aai.aero/en/airports/hyderabad}}
* {{ASN|HYD}}
{{Hyderabad topics}}
{{Airports in India}}

{{Indian Air Force}}

[[Category:Airports established in 1936]]
[[Category:Airports in Telangana]]
[[Category:Transport in Hyderabad, India]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Hyderabad, India]]
[[Category:Establishments in Hyderabad State]]
[[Category:1936 establishments in British India]]
[[Category:20th-century architecture in India]]
[[Category:Airports Authority of India]]

Begumpet Airport - Revision history

Smartkabadi at 17:02, 31 January 2026