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Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (VNS)
Departures from Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (VNS) at a glance
- 39flights a day21st busiest of 98 airports
- 12routes from here
- 4airlines
- 07:25 – 21:10first and last
Collected between 27 September 2026 and 30 September 2026. Not live — check with the airline before booking.
Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (VNS) serves Varanasi, in Uttar Pradesh, and stands at Babatpur, in the Pindra tehsil (sub-district) of Varanasi district. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) runs it.
A Varanasi district administration page last updated in 2019 puts the airport 22 km from Varanasi and 30 km from Sarnath. A new terminal building was under construction in mid-2026.
The terminal and the expansion of Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport
On 19 June 2024 the Union Cabinet approved AAI's plan to develop the airport with a new terminal building, an extended runway, a new apron, a parallel taxi track and allied works, as a green airport. The State Environment Impact Assessment Authority, Uttar Pradesh, issued the environmental clearance for the work on 1 March 2024.
The Union Civil Aviation Minister, Ram Mohan Naidu, reviewed the new terminal under construction on 24 June 2026 and directed that it be completed within six months, Aviation and Defence Universe reported on 26 June 2026. The same report described the existing terminal as having reached its passenger handling capacity.
News On AIR, the All India Radio news service, reported on 8 July 2026 that foundation and raft work was under way on a six-lane underpass beneath the active runway, which the minister described as the country's first.
Check with your airline or AAI before you fly whether your flight uses the existing terminal or a new one.
Getting to and from Varanasi airport
Route 101 electric bus timetable on AAI's page
AAI's transport page for Varanasi airport carries a timetable for electric buses on route 101. The listed stops after the airport are Harhua, Bhojubeer, Kachahari, JHV Mall, Cantt Railway Station, Rohania, Mohansarai and Mirzamurad. The timetable is undated and names no operator, so ask AAI whether the bus is running before you plan around it.
Taxis
A Varanasi district administration travel page last updated in 2019 lists prepaid taxis at the airport.
Parking
The airport has parking for cars, two-wheelers, mini buses, buses and trucks or coaches, and each type has its own charge.
Facilities at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport
AAI's pages list these facilities at the airport:
- Snack bars, including one in the arrival hall and Banaraswala Snacks Bar.
- A sweet shop in the check-in area, a food and beverage outlet with a beer bar, and branded food and fast-food outlets.
- Convenience stores in the arrival hall and in the check-in area.
- A Union Bank of India cash machine in the arrival area, Union Bank of India and State Bank of India cash machines in the check-in area, and a Thomas Cook money exchange counter in the check-in area.
- A Tourist Information Counter run by UP Tourism (Uttar Pradesh Tourism), and an India Tourism (Government of India) counter, both in the arrival visitors' concourse.
- A meet-and-greet service, Swagat Sewa.
Executive lounge
AAI lists an executive lounge run by Hotel Pradeep, of Jagatganj, Varanasi. If you hold lounge access through a card or a ticket, check with its provider that it covers Varanasi.
Security, identity and DigiYatra at Varanasi airport
Identity documents
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) publishes the list of photo identity documents accepted at terminal entry, carried in original with a valid ticket. A passport, Aadhaar or m-Aadhaar, a voter photo identity card and a driving licence are among them, and an international passenger carries a valid passport.
The CISF list says an infant or minor travelling with a parent or guardian who holds valid identity proof does not need a separate document, but an unaccompanied minor does. Airlines may ask for more, and foreign nationals should ask their airline which document it accepts for a domestic flight.
Liquids, banned items and power banks
The CISF restricted-articles list allows liquids, aerosols and gels in cabin baggage in small quantities for the journey, in containers of up to 100 ml each, packed in one clear, resealable one-litre plastic bag. Medicine or an inhaler accompanied by a prescription, and baby food, are exceptions.
Lighters, metal scissors with pointed tips, tools such as hammers and drills, and self-defence items such as pepper spray are on its list of items banned in cabin baggage. A Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) circular of 11 November 2025 says power banks and spare batteries are to be carried in hand baggage only and not placed in overhead bins, and that using or charging power banks is not allowed during flight. Ask your airline about any limit on their size or number.
DigiYatra
AAI records the launch of DigiYatra, a biometric boarding system, at Varanasi airport on 1 December 2022. The Digi Yatra Foundation runs it. Check the DigiYatra app for who can enrol and for the current position at Varanasi.
Direct domestic flights recorded from Varanasi
Airlines recorded on direct domestic flights from Varanasi are IndiGo, Air India, Air India Express and Akasa Air.
For Mumbai, flights are recorded to both Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and Navi Mumbai International Airport. For the Delhi area, they are recorded to Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi and to Hindon Airport in Ghaziabad, and each airport has its own route page.
Direct domestic flights recorded from Varanasi go to:
| Destination | Airport | Airlines recorded |
|---|---|---|
| Ahmedabad | Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (AMD) | IndiGo |
| Bengaluru (Bangalore) | Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) | IndiGo, Air India Express, Akasa Air |
| Chennai (Madras) | Chennai International Airport (MAA) | IndiGo |
| Delhi | Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) | IndiGo, Air India, Air India Express |
| Ghaziabad | Hindon Airport (HDO) | IndiGo |
| Hyderabad | Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (HYD) | IndiGo |
| Kolkata (Calcutta) | Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU) | IndiGo |
| Mumbai (Bombay) | Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) | IndiGo, Air India Express, Akasa Air |
| Navi Mumbai | Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMI) | IndiGo, Akasa Air |
| Pune | Pune International Airport (PNQ) | IndiGo |
| Vijayawada | Vijayawada International Airport (VGA) | IndiGo |
Delays, cancellations and your rights
The DGCA sets out what airlines offer when a flight is delayed or cancelled, or a passenger is denied boarding, in its Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) Section 3, Series M, Part IV, Revision 4, dated 25 January 2023 and effective from 15 February 2023.
If you checked in on time, the airline provides meals and refreshments once a delay is expected to reach two hours or more on a flight with a block time of up to 2.5 hours, three hours or more on a flight of more than 2.5 and up to 5 hours, and four hours or more on a longer flight. The airline does not have to provide meals or refreshments where the delay is caused by extraordinary circumstances that could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken.
When a flight is cancelled, the airline provides for an alternate flight or a refund. A passenger told of the cancellation more than 24 hours before departure is offered an alternate flight or a refund. A passenger who was not told in that time is offered either an alternate flight, or compensation under the DGCA's rules together with a full refund, but compensation is not due to a passenger who gave the airline no email address or phone number at booking.
The CAR does not require compensation for cancellations and delays clearly attributable to air traffic control, weather or security risks, or caused by other circumstances beyond the airline's control. You can complain to the airline directly, file a grievance on the Air Sewa app or portal, or go to a statutory body or court. Check dgca.gov.in for a later revision, and your airline's current rules, before you rely on these rules.
Questions about Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport
How far is Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport from Varanasi?
The Varanasi district administration's page, last updated in 2019, puts it 22 km from Varanasi.
Does AAI list a bus from Varanasi airport to Varanasi Cantt Railway Station?
AAI's transport page carries a timetable for route 101 electric buses with Cantt Railway Station among its stops. The timetable is undated and names no operator, so ask AAI whether the bus is running before you travel.
How far is Varanasi airport from Sarnath?
The Varanasi district administration's page, last updated in 2019, puts Sarnath 30 km from the airport.
Is there a lounge at Varanasi airport?
AAI lists an executive lounge run by Hotel Pradeep. If you hold lounge access through a card or a ticket, check with its provider that it covers Varanasi.
Can I change money at Varanasi airport?
AAI lists a Thomas Cook money exchange counter in the check-in area, a Union Bank of India cash machine in the arrival area, and Union Bank of India and State Bank of India cash machines in the check-in area.