Dholera International Airport is a greenfield airport project under construction about 80 kilometers southwest of Ahmedabad. It’s been designed to relieve congestion at the city’s existing Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport and serve the industrial growth corridor centered on Dholera Special Investment Region (DSIR). As of March 2026, the airport is in its final construction and testing phases, with Phase 1 expected to become operational in late 2026.
Key facts at a glance
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| Location | Near Navagam village, Dholera taluka, Ahmedabad district |
| Distance from Ahmedabad | 80 kilometers southwest |
| Distance from DSIR | ~20 kilometers |
| Runway length | 3,200 meters (4E category, handles wide-body aircraft like Boeing 777, Airbus A380) |
| Phase 1 terminal capacity | 20,000 square meters; 1.5 million passengers annually (reported, not officially confirmed) |
| Phase 1 cargo terminal | 3,000 square meters |
| Aircraft stands | 12 (Phase 1) |
| Phase 1 cost estimate | ₹1,305 crore (~$155 million USD) |
| Ownership | Airports Authority of India (51%), Gujarat government (33%), DMICDC (16%) |
| Developer | Dholera International Airport Company Limited (DIACL) |
| Expected Phase 1 opening | Late 2026 (trials underway March 2026) |
Where is Dholera Airport?
The airport sits in Dholera taluka, about 80 kilometers from Ahmedabad city center. You’ll reach it via the newly completed Ahmedabad-Dholera Expressway, which cuts travel time significantly compared to older highway routes. The airport is located roughly 20 kilometers from the Dholera Special Investment Region (DSIR), close enough to serve the region’s industrial facilities, but planned as a separate facility with its own access road network.
The site itself covers 1,426 hectares of land. The choice of location wasn’t arbitrary. Dholera sits along the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor, making it a logical logistics hub for heavy industry, automotive manufacturing, and electronics production in the region. The airport is integral to the larger Dholera Smart City development, which is reshaping this part of Gujarat with world-class infrastructure.
Current construction status (2026)
Phase 1 civil works were completed in December 2025. As of March 2026, the airport is in its final testing phase. Calibration flights took place between January and February 2026, with full operational trials scheduled for March onwards.
The runway, a critical piece of infrastructure, is ready and can handle wide-body jets. The passenger terminal structure is complete. The cargo handling facility is in place. The Air Traffic Control tower has been built. Taxiways, aprons, and ground support infrastructure are finished.
What remains is mainly licensing, certification, and operational readiness. The regulatory sign-offs required before commercial flights can begin are being processed. The airport authority (DIACL) is conducting trials with calibration aircraft and testing all systems before handing over to AAI for full operation.
Timeline for opening
Cargo terminal: 2026
DIACL has indicated that international air cargo operations should begin sometime in 2026, likely in the second half of the year. Cargo was planned as the first operational phase since it requires fewer regulatory approvals and can begin generating revenue faster than passenger flights. Freight forwarding companies and importers of high-value goods are watching closely.
Phase 1 passenger terminal: Late 2026 (expected)
Full passenger operations for Phase 1 are expected by December 2026, though this date has not been officially confirmed by AAI as of March 2026. Construction timelines in India often slip, so this should be treated as a target rather than guaranteed.
Phase 2 and beyond
Once Phase 1 stabilizes, the airport will expand. Phase 2 will add more taxiways, a second runway, additional terminal capacity, and facilities to handle 30-50 million passengers annually. This expansion is planned for later phases but specific timelines have not been announced.
How to reach Dholera Airport from Ahmedabad
The Ahmedabad-Dholera Expressway (approximately 88 kilometers) makes access straightforward. Depending on traffic, the drive takes about 90 minutes to 2 hours from central Ahmedabad.
Public transport options are still limited. There is no dedicated airport rail link yet, though the Gujarat government has discussed adding rail connectivity to DSIR and the airport in the future. For now, most travelers will rely on car rental, hired taxis, or the airport shuttle services (if offered by airlines).
Once the airport opens, expect improved road connections and possibly shuttle buses from central Ahmedabad, though these details haven’t been finalized yet.
Why this airport matters for Ahmedabad
Relief from congestion at Ahmedabad’s main airport
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport handled over 13 million passengers in fiscal 2024-25, making it India’s seventh-busiest. That volume has maxed out the terminal’s capacity. By 2026-27, Ahmedabad needs another outlet for air traffic. Dholera, even in Phase 1, provides breathing room.
Cargo and logistics hub
The DSIR is attracting semiconductor fabs, automotive parts manufacturers, and electronics production. These facilities rely on air cargo for time-sensitive shipments. Dholera’s dedicated cargo terminal (smaller than many international cargo airports but adequate for Phase 1) will serve this industrial base directly.
Connecting GIFT City
Gandhinagar’s GIFT City financial center sits about 40 kilometers from Dholera Airport. Business travelers moving between Mumbai, Delhi, and Southeast Asia will have another flight option. This matters for banking, fintech, and trading operations that depend on fast connectivity.
Gateway to the Delhi-Mumbai Corridor
Dholera is positioned along the DMIC, a massive infrastructure push connecting Delhi to Mumbai with industrial zones and logistics hubs. As the corridor develops, the airport becomes critical for manufacturing and export-focused industries.
Positioning for international routes
The runway (3.2 kilometers) can handle wide-body aircraft (Boeing 777s, Airbus A380s), meaning international flights to the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and beyond are feasible once demand justifies them. AAI has not announced specific international routes yet, but this infrastructure capability exists.
Dholera Airport vs. Ahmedabad Airport: Why They’re Not Competitors
You might wonder: won’t Dholera cannibalize traffic from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Airport?
Not necessarily. They serve different markets.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is centrally located, closer to downtown Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, and most passenger traffic originating from the city itself. It will continue handling the majority of tourist flights, business travel from the city center, and domestic operations to metros.
Dholera is positioned for industrial and logistics traffic. Its proximity to DSIR and the DMIC makes it the natural choice for freight, manufacturing hubs, and business travel centered on the industrial corridor. A cargo shipment destined for a semiconductor fab in DSIR doesn’t need to go through Ahmedabad city. It lands directly at Dholera.
Over time, as traffic grows, both airports will be needed. Ahmedabad’s growth justifies both.
Frequently asked questions
When will Dholera Airport actually open?
Cargo operations are targeted for mid-to-late 2026. Passenger flights are expected by December 2026, though this is not officially guaranteed. Construction timelines have held so far, but regulatory approvals can add delays.
Can I fly international routes from Dholera?
Not immediately. Phase 1 is designed to handle domestic flights and some regional international traffic. Major intercontinental routes will come later, once Phase 2 is built and airlines commit to operating them. For now, Ahmedabad Airport remains the hub for long-haul international flights.
How many flights per day will Dholera have?
Phase 1 won’t be a high-frequency airport. With 12 aircraft stands and a single runway, capacity is limited. Expect 15-30 commercial movements per day initially, rising as Phase 2 opens. Compare this to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s 50-60+ daily movements.
Is Dholera cheaper than Ahmedabad Airport?
Landing and terminal charges are not yet public, as the airport hasn’t opened. However, new airports often offer incentives to attract airlines in the first few years. Whether tickets will be cheaper is a question for airlines. Airport charges are only part of the fare.
Will there be a train to Dholera Airport?
Not on opening day. The Ahmedabad-Dholera Expressway exists, and the government has discussed rail connectivity, but no dedicated airport rail link has been announced. You’ll need a car or taxi for now.
How does this fit into Ahmedabad’s future?
Dholera Airport is one piece of a larger strategy: the DSIR as an industrial hub, GIFT City as a financial center, and improved highway/rail connectivity across the region. Together, these projects position Ahmedabad to compete with metros like Bangalore and Mumbai for high-value manufacturing and services. The airport is infrastructure that attracts investment.
What’s next
Phase 1 opening will be a milestone, but it’s not the end. The airport authority is already planning Phase 2, which will add significant capacity. The success of Phase 1 will determine how quickly Phase 2 gets funding and approval.
For Ahmedabad residents and businesses, the airport represents access. Access to new markets for export, new suppliers for manufacturing, and new flight options for travel. That matters more than the airport itself.
Want to understand more about the region that Dholera Airport serves? Read our Dholera Smart City guide for a complete overview of the development project, or explore how this fits into Ahmedabad’s growth with our guide to GIFT City in Gandhinagar.
