| Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport | |
| Iata: | VNS |
| Icao: | VEBN |
| Pushpin Map: | India Uttar Pradesh#India#South Asia#Middle East#Asia |
| Pushpin Label: | VNS |
| Type: | Public |
| Owner: | Government of India |
| Operator: | Airports Authority of India |
| City-Served: | Varanasi |
| Location: | Babatpur, Varanasi district, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Elevation-F: | 270 |
| Elevation-M: | 82.30 |
| Coordinates: | 25.4522°N 82.8594°W |
| Metric-Rwy: | yes |
| R1-Number: | 09/27 |
| R1-Length-F: | 9,006 |
| R1-Length-M: | 2,745 |
| R1-Surface: | Asphalt |
| Stat-Year: | April 2023 - March 2024 |
| Stat1-Header: | Passengers |
| Stat1-Data: | 2,996,698 (18.8%) |
| Stat2-Header: | Aircraft movements |
| Stat2-Data: | 20,520 (7.1%) |
| Stat3-Header: | Cargo tonnage |
| Stat3-Data: | 4,721 (0.2%) |
| Footnotes: | Source: AAI[1] [2] [3] |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of airport in Uttar Pradesh |
Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport is an international airport serving Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. It is located at Babatpur,[4] 26km (16miles) northwest of Varanasi. Formerly known as Varanasi Airport, it was officially renamed after Lal Bahadur Shastri, the 2nd Prime Minister of India, in October 2005.[5] It is the 20th-busiest airport in India in terms of passenger movement, and the 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.[6] It is the first airport in India to make announcements in Sanskrit language.[7]
thumb|left|Lal Bahadur Shastri statue at Varanasi AirportAn integrated terminal serves both domestic and international flights, with a floor area of 3900m2.[8] 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.[9] 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.[9] The apron can simultaneously park five narrow-body aircraft.[10] 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.[11]
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.[9] A third, seldom-used exit leads to an isolated apron for use in emergency.[9]
Due to increasing passenger traffic and aircraft movements the Airports Authority of India is planning to extend the runway to 4075m (13,369feet) from the existing 2750m (9,020feet). An underpass will be constructed as the expansion will intersect with National Highway 31.[12]
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.[13]