The Surat international airport located in Gujarat, India, is the third largest and second busiest airport in Gujarat, trailing only Ahmedabad in terms of aircraft movements and passenger traffic.
The airport’s operator Airports Authority of India (AAI) expanded the Surat airport’s terminal building with an investment of Rs3.53bn ($42.5m). Construction of the expansion project commenced in January 2019.
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The Surat airport was declared as an international airport in December 2023 and the expanded terminal building was inaugurated in the same month.
The expansion project aims to enhance the capacity and facilities of the Surat airport to cater to the growing demand in the region and provide an improved travel experience for international passengers.
Surat international airport location
The Surat international airport is situated in Magdalla, close to the renowned Dumas Beach in the south-west part of Surat city in Gujarat.
The airport enjoys good connectivity, being near State Highway 168 and National Highway 6, with the Surat railway station located 14km to the north-east of the project site. The total area of the existing airport is 784 acres.
Surat international airport terminal building expansion details
AAI announced a significant development of the Surat airport in 2018, including the extension of the terminal building and apron, and the construction of a parallel taxi track.
The existing two-level terminal building, designed to handle 250 passengers an hour, was expanded by 17,035m² to 25,520m².
The terminal includes 20 check-in counters, five aerobridges, an in-line baggage handling system, five conveyor belts for arriving passengers, and parking spaces for 475 cars.
The expanded terminal building can handle 1,800 passengers, including 1,200 domestic and 600 international passengers during peak hours with an annual passenger handling capacity of 3.5 million.
The terminal has the potential to increase capacity to 3,000 passengers per hour and an annual passenger handling capacity of 5.5 million.
The terminal’s design reflects Surat’s local culture and heritage, with the facade featuring traditional woodwork inspired by the old houses located in the Rander region of Surat city.
The project also included the expansion of the apron by increasing the number of parking bays from five to 18. A new parallel taxi track, measuring 2,905m x 30m, was also added.
The renovation encompasses various improvements, from periphery walls and runway repair to aerobridge installation, all aimed at ensuring safe and secure airport operations.
Sustainable features
Surat airport’s expanded terminal building is constructed in line with the Energy Conservation Building Code and has achieved a four-star rating for compliance with the Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment, which is India’s national framework designed to assess the environmental impact of built environments.
LED lighting is installed throughout the building to minimise its environmental footprint.
Additional sustainable initiatives include rainwater harvesting and the use of recycled water for landscaping.
Surat international airport details
The Surat international airport is equipped with comprehensive facilities to cater to both passenger and cargo services. The infrastructure includes a terminal building, a runway, taxiways, aprons, an airfield lighting system, an air traffic control tower, and navigation aids.
Additional support facilities encompass utilities, a stormwater drainage system, a water treatment plant, and a sewage treatment plant.
Aircraft support services, including refuelling, repairs and overhaul, ground support, and catering, are also available.
Contractors involved
Gaurang Environmental Solutions, an environmental consultancy and solution provider based in India, was the environmental consultant for the Surat international airport terminal building expansion project.
