Essential Guide To Kolkata Airport
Table of Contents
The capital city of West Bengal, perched on the banks of the Hooghly River is charming, cultural, eccentric Kolkata. The ‘city of Joy’ is one of Asia’s fastest growing cities.
Kolkata attracts a constant flow of leisure tourists, businessmen, students, families, and backpackers throughout the year.
The Kolkata International Airport, also known as the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, is operated by the Airports Authority of India. It is the fifth busiest airport in India and handles approximately 19 million passengers annually. Furthermore, it is the largest airport in Eastern India.
Expansion of the airport is currently being undertaken with plans to increase the handling capacity of the airport to 40 million by the end of 2021.
In the past few years, there has been a significant rise in air traffic at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport. Most domestic flights connect Kolkata to a number of cities in India. Of these the Mumbai to Kolkata, Guwahati to Kolkata and Bangalore to Kolkata flights are the most popular routes.
The Kolkata airport is also a hub connecting India with Bhutan, Bangladesh, China and other parts of South-east Asia.
Terminals at the Kolkata Airport
A newly built 5 level terminal at the Kolkata airport has replaced the older one in 2013, thus integrating international and domestic arrivals as well as departures in the same terminal.
The interesting thing about the terminal is that the ceiling is embellished with the writings of the famed Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore.
Terminal 2 has 44 immigration counters, 18 aerobridges and 104 check-in counters to manage the crowds that go through the airport daily.
The Kolkata airport is a hub for the following airlines:
- Thai Airways
- Dragon Air
- China Eastern
- Air India
- SpiceJet
- Indigo
- Singapore Airlines
- Qatar Airways
- United Airways
- Go Air
- Emirates
- Druk Air
- Air Asia
- Biman Bangladesh
Check-in islands from B to E are for domestic flights and check-in islands from F to H are designated for international flights.
The Cargo T2 terminal is spread over a large area that also includes a warehouse. Imports and exports navigate through this warehouse under the scrutiny and surveillance of airport security.
Duty-free at the Kolkata Airport
In 2017, a number of retail stores were opened in the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport. The stores feature branded apparel, shoes, cosmetics, books, leather goods and luggage in the domestic area.
The duty-free area is also available in the international area of the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport and passengers with an international boarding pass are eligible to shop here.
Restaurants at the Kolkata Airport
There are a host of restaurants at the airport catering to various palates.
The restaurants in the international hall include the tea shop, Chicago crust, Café coffee day, Idli.com, On the go, Biryani Bhai and coffee box.
The domestic departures hall even has a food court with kiosks like Noodle Wok, Wow Momo, Curry Kitchen and the very famous Flury’s.
The arrivals section has a café coffee day and Cafeccino.
The food and beverage outlets are managed by Travel Food Services Private Limited.
Lounges at the Kolkata Airport
The international lounges are open to the passengers 24 x 7.
The domestic lounge, however, is only operational from 04:00 a.m. to 09:00 p.m. These are convenient in cases you miss a connecting flight or have a long transit.
The mezzanine floor of terminal 2 also houses 12 retiring rooms whose access will be granted on a priority basis and upon making a booking.
Passengers can pay Rs.1000 for a twin sharing room or Rs. 750 to avail the comforts of a single room.
Other Services at the Kolkata Airport
- The Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport is Wi-Fi enabled and allows the passengers to be connected to the internet for no extra charges.
- Baby care facilities are available to mothers who would like to nurse their infants.
- Luggage can be stored at the airport for a maximum duration of 30 days for a nominal rate of Rs. 20 per day.
- An Apollo pharmacy along with emergency medical assistance is available on the domestic as well as international halls.
- Transfers within the T2 terminal are made effortless by way of interconnected escalators throughout the airport.
- ATMs and a foreign currency exchange kiosk are available at the arrivals area.
- A prayer room is available at Kolkata airport.
- A post office also functions within the airport.
- Designated smoking areas can be used by travellers if they require it.
- The domestic hall also houses a Masti Health and Beauty spa for the passengers to indulge in while they wait to board.
- The parking facilities at the Kolkata airport can accommodate 3000 cars in the underground level and 2000 cars in the outdoor landscaped parking lot. Parking rates are Rs. 40 for 30 minutes and increase by Rs. 20 for every hour afterwards.
- In the event of extended layovers, passengers can choose to visit the City centre mall which is located just 12 minutes from the Kolkata international airport.
- Swissotel Kolkata
- Prices start at Rs. 7000
- Swissotel is the luxury hotel closest to Kolkata airport. The hotel is also attached to a large shopping mall and a cinema multiplex.
- Holiday Inn Kolkata Airport
- Prices start at Rs. 5500
- The business hotel is located in the vicinity of the Kolkata international airport. It features a business centre for tourists who would like to get some work done during a long transit.
- Hotel O2 Oxygen
- Prices start at Rs. 3600
- This mid-range hotel is located within a convenient distance of the Kolkata airport. Complete with 100 rooms, 2 restaurants and a 24-hour coffee shop, tourists would find it convenient staying here prior to an early flight.
- Airport City Hotel
- Prices start at Rs. 3000
- The budget hotel gives travellers a chance to get some sleep and freshen up in case they miss a flight or need to spend a night near the Kolkata airport.
Where to Stay Near Kolkata Airport
Kolkata Airport Transport
Government prepaid taxis operate 24 hours a day and are the most convenient way to get to and from the centre of the city.
Booking counters near Gate 3C, make it more convenient for passengers to hail cabs.
MegaCabs, Ola and Uber also operate from the airport. Car rentals are also available should the passengers require them.
The airport is located at a distance of 17 kilometres from the centre of the city and cabs usually charge around Rs. 400 for a one-way journey to or from the airport.
Air-conditioned city buses ply to and from the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport at regular intervals.
The expansion plans that have been undertaken also involve a metro-link from the city centre to the airport.
A flyover from Nagerbazar in Kolkata to the VIP road leading to the airport was constructed as part of the modernization program. This has been a boon for airport-bound traffic in Kolkata.
Kolkata Airport Weather
Kolkata in West Bengal is subject to tropical wet and dry climates. Average temperatures during the summer season hover around 32 degree Celsius and dip down to 12 degrees during the cold winters.
Fog in the airports during the winter months may lead to flight delays and passengers should be prepared for this.
Contact Information
Contact number: +91 33 25118787
Email id: www.kolkatainternationalairport.com
Airport code: IATA: CCU
