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{{short description|Airport located in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox airport
| name = Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport
| image = {{CSS image crop
|Image = Vns .jpg
|bSize = 370
|cWidth = 350
|cHeight = 80
|oTop = 60
|oLeft = 0
}}
| image-width = 250px
| IATA = VNS
| ICAO = VEBN
| pushpin_map = India Uttar Pradesh#India
| pushpin_label = '''VNS'''
| type = Public
| owner = [[Government of India]]
| operator = [[Airports Authority of India]]
| city-served = [[Varanasi]]
| location = [[Babatpur]]
| elevation-f = 270
| elevation-m =
| coordinates = {{coord|25|27|08|N|082|51|34|E|type:airport|display=inline,title}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.aai.aero/en/airports/varanasi}}
| metric-rwy = yes
| r1-number = 09/27
| r1-length-f = 9,006
| r1-length-m = 2,745
| r1-surface = [[Asphalt]]
| stat-year = April 2020 - March 2021
| stat1-header = Passengers
| stat1-data = 1,466,718 ({{decrease}} 51.3%)
| stat2-header = Aircraft Movements
| stat2-data = 14,396 ({{decrease}} 40.2%)
| stat3-header = Cargo Tonnage
| stat3-data = 2,952 ({{decrease}} 17.5%)
| stat4-header = International Passengers
| stat4-data = 18,563 ({{decrease}} 92.0%)
| footnotes = Source: [[Airport Authority of India|AAI]]<ref name="traffic_stats1">{{cite web|url=https://www.aai.aero/sites/default/files/traffic-news/Mar202kAnnex3.pdf|title=Traffic News for the month of March 2021: Annexure-II|work=[[Airports Authority of India]]|date=7 May 2021|access-date=7 May 2021|page=3}}</ref><ref name="traffic_stats2">{{cite web|url=https://www.aai.aero/sites/default/files/traffic-news/Mar202kAnnex2.pdf|title=Traffic News for the month of March 2021: Annexure-II|work=[[Airports Authority of India]]|date=7 May 2021|access-date=7 May 2021|page=3|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180501224637/https://www.aai.aero/sites/default/files/traffic-news/Mar2k18annex2.pdf|archive-date=1 May 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="traffic_stats3">{{cite web|url=https://www.aai.aero/sites/default/files/traffic-news/Mar202kAnnex4.pdf|title=Traffic News for the month of March 2021: Annexure-IV|work=[[Airports Authority of India]]|date=7 May 2021|access-date=7 May 2021|page=3}}</ref>
}}

'''Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport''' {{Airport codes|VNS|VEBN}} is an [[international airport]] located at [[Babatpur]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Varanasi|url=http://www.aai.aero/allAirports/varanasi_generalinfo.jsp|publisher=[[Airports Authority of India]]|access-date=1 February 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120629091735/http://www.aai.aero/allAirports/varanasi_generalinfo.jsp|archive-date=29 June 2012}}</ref> {{convert|26|km|mi|abbr=on}} northwest of [[Varanasi]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[India]]. Formerly known as Varanasi Airport, it was officially renamed after [[Lal Bahadur Shastri]], the [[List of Prime Ministers of India|2nd]] [[Prime Minister of India]], in October 2005.<ref name=pib>{{cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=12805&kwd|title=Varanasi Airport renamed|publisher=Press Information Bureau, Government of India|date=20 October 2005}}. It acquired its position in India's major airports after more than 1.5 million passengers used the airport in 2017.</ref> It is India's 18th-busiest airport in terms of passenger movement and second-busiest airport in [[Uttar Pradesh]]. The airport is awarded as the best airport in [[Asia-Pacific]] in 2020 (2 to 5 million passengers per annum) by [[Airports Council International]].<ref>{{cite web |title=2020 - Best Airport by Size and Region |url=https://aci.aero/customer-experience-asq/asq-awards-and-recognition/asq-awards/current-winner-2020/best-airport-by-size-and-region/ |website=ACI World |access-date=3 March 2021}}</ref>

==Terminal==
[[file:Varanasi Airport.png|thumb|left|Lal Bahadur Shastri statue at Varanasi Airport]]
An integrated terminal serves both domestic and international flights, with a floor area of {{Convert|3900|m2|abbr=off}}.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport or Varanasi Airport (VNS)|url=https://www.makemytrip.com/flights/varanasi_airport-vns-varanasi.html}}</ref> The terminal features 16 check-in counters with CUTE (common-user terminal equipment), four immigration counters that double up as emigration counters, and two baggage-claim belts.<ref name="auto1">{{cite web|title=Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport or Varanasi Airport (VNS)|url=https://www.aai.aero/en/node/2919|website=AAI|access-date=6 January 2021}}</ref> Besides an upper-level seating area for the aero-bridge gates, the terminal features a ground-level gate to reach other aircraft on the apron on foot, or via shuttle bus.<ref name="auto1"/> The apron can simultaneously park five narrow-body aircraft.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.goindigo.in/airport-directory/india/varanasi-vns.html|title=Varanasi Airport (VNS), Varanasi International Airport | IndiGo|website=www.goindigo.in|access-date=11 February 2020}}</ref> The waiting area features essential services for the passengers, besides snack stalls, a travellers' convenience store, a bookstore with a newsstand, and stores selling merchandise indigenous to Varanasi, such as Banarasi Saris; and a VIP waiting lounge.<ref>{{cite web|title=Shopping|url=https://www.aai.aero/en/airports/passenger-info/varanasi/Shopping|website=AAI|access-date=6 January 2021}}</ref>

[[File:Replica of varanasi ghats at varanasi airport.jpg|alt=Replica of varanasi ghats at varanasi airport|thumb|Replica of Varanasi ghats at Varanasi Airport]]

==Airfield==
The airport features a single asphalt runway bearing 09/27. It is 9,006 feet (2,745 m) in length, with turnarounds on both ends, and two exits to the main apron.<ref name="auto1"/> A third, seldom-used exit leads to an isolated apron for use in emergency.<ref name="auto1"/>
[[File:An_IndiGo_aircraft_being_serviced_by_an_aerobridge_at_Varanasi_Airport.jpg|thumb|An IndiGo aircraft being serviced by an aerobridge at Varanasi Airport]]

==Airlines and destinations==

[[File:Air_India_Express-VNS.jpg|thumb|Air India Express aircraft at Varanasi Airport]]

{{Airport-dest-list
|[[Air India]] |[[Dehradun Airport|Dehradun]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Air India to begin Varanasi-Dehradun flights from September 28|url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/business/travel-air-india-varanasi-to-dehradun-flights-from-september-28-550086|work=India TV|access-date=17 September 2019|date=17 September 2019}}</ref> [[Indira Gandhi International Airport|Delhi]], [[Khajuraho Airport|Khajuraho]], [[Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport|Kolkata]], [[Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport|Mumbai]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airindia.in/time-table.htm|title=Time Table|website=www.airindia.in|access-date=6 January 2021}}</ref>

|[[Go First (airline)|Go First]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Budget airline GoAir rebrands as Go First|url=https://www.thehindu.com/business/budget-airline-goair-rebrands-as-go-first/article34552775.ece}}</ref>| [[Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport|Ahmedabad]], [[Kempegowda International Airport|Bangalore]], [[Indira Gandhi International Airport|Delhi]], [[Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport|Kolkata]], [[Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport|Mumbai]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://centreforaviation.com/news/goair-to-commence-mumbai-varanasi-service-in-mar-2020-982715|title=GoAir to commence Mumbai-Varanasi service in Mar-2020|work=CAPA|access-date=12 March 2020}}</ref>

|[[IndiGo]]| [[Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport|Ahmedabad]], [[Kempegowda International Airport|Bangalore]], [[Biju Patnaik Airport|Bhubaneswar]], [[Chennai International Airport|Chennai]], [[Indira Gandhi International Airport|Delhi]], [[Gaya Airport|Gaya]], [[Dabolim Airport|Goa]], [[Rajiv Gandhi International Airport|Hyderabad]], [[Jaipur International Airport|Jaipur]], [[Cochin International Airport|Kochi]], [[Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport|Kolkata]], [[Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport|Mumbai]]<ref name="6Eschedules">{{Cite web|url=https://www.goindigo.in/information/flight-schedule.html|title=Flights Schedule for Domestic & International Flights | IndiGo|website=www.goindigo.in|access-date=20 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.goindigo.in/information/new-flights.html?linkNav=new-flights_header|title=New Flights of IndiGo|work=IndiGo|access-date=7 October 2019}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/indigo-to-start-daily-flights-on-six-udan-routes-in-next-two-months/articleshow/73085075.cms|title=IndiGo to start daily flights on six UDAN routes in next two months|newspaper=Economic Times|access-date=3 January 2020|date=3 January 2020}}</ref><ref name="6E">{{Cite web|url=http://www.goindigo.in/information/flight-schedule.html|title=Indigo Flights Schedule}}</ref>

|[[SpiceJet]]|[[Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport|Ahmedabad]], [[Indira Gandhi International Airport|Delhi]], [[Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport|Mumbai]]<ref>{{cite web|title=SpiceJet Flight Schedules|url=https://www.spicejet.com/schedules.aspx}}</ref>

|[[Vistara]]|[[Indira Gandhi International Airport|Delhi]], [[Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport|Mumbai]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.airvistara.com/trip/where-we-fly|title=Vistara Flight Destinations (Network) in India - Route Map|website=www.airvistara.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Vistara adds Khajuraho flights|url=https://www.airvistara.com/trip/khajuraho_flights|work=Vistara|access-date=30 September 2019}}</ref>
}}

== Statistics ==
{{Airport-Statistics|iata=VNS}}

==Future plans==
Due to increasing passenger traffic and aircraft movements the [[Airports Authority of India]] is planning to extend the runway to {{convert|4075|m|ft|abbr=on}} from the existing {{convert|2750|m|ft|abbr=on}}. An underpass will be constructed as the expansion will intersect with National Highway 31.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/varanasi/up-airport-1st-to-have-national-highway-under-runway/articleshow/64457458.cms|title=UP airport 1st to have national highway under runway - Times of India|website=The Times of India}}</ref>

In November 2019, the Airports Authority of India came up with a proposal for a new second terminal, which will be completed by 2024. The total area of the terminal will be 58,691 m² with passenger capacity of 4.5 million per year.<ref>{{cite news |title=गंगा की लहरों व शिवलिंग सा होगा वाराणसी एलबीएस इंटरनेशनल एयरपोर्ट टर्मिनल, डिजाइन तैयार |url=https://www.jagran.com/uttar-pradesh/varanasi-city-new-airport-terminal-will-be-made-as-shivling-shape-19739101.html |access-date=11 February 2020 |work=Dainik Jagran |date=10 November 2019 |language=hi}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of airports in India]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in India]]
* [[Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category-inline|Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061013160912/http://www.aai.aero/allAirports/varanasi_generalinfo.jsp Varanasi Airport] at [[Airports Authority of India]] web site

{{Varanasi}}
{{Airports in India}}

[[Category:Buildings and structures in Varanasi]]
[[Category:Airports in Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Transport in Varanasi]]
[[Category:Memorials to Lal Bahadur Shastri]]
[[Category:Airports with year of establishment missing]]

Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport - Revision history

CleanupBot II at 09:35, 14 August 2023