Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU), known locally as Kolkata Airport or Dum Dum Airport for the northern neighbourhood it borders, is the principal aviation gateway to eastern India. Located 15 kilometres northeast of central Kolkata, the airport handles more than 22 million passengers annually and is the fifth-busiest in India after Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Hyderabad. The airport opened in 1924 as a Royal Air Force airfield and was named for Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, the Indian independence leader, in 1995. A major terminal expansion completed in 2013 consolidated domestic and international operations into a single integrated terminal capable of 20 million passengers annually, with further capacity expansion underway to support anticipated growth to 40 million by 2030.
Book an airport transfer to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Airport
Fixed-price private transfers with English-speaking drivers. Meet-and-greet included.
Getting to and from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Airport
The airport operates one integrated terminal building with two wings: the international wing handles flights to Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, Doha, Dhaka, Kathmandu, Yangon, and London Heathrow, while the domestic wing handles extensive services across India's network on IndiGo, Air India, Vistara, Go First (in resolution proceedings), SpiceJet, AirAsia India, and Akasa Air. IndiGo is the dominant domestic operator with dedicated gate clusters. International carriers serving CCU include Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific, Malaysia Airlines, Biman Bangladesh, Myanmar Airways International, and British Airways (on a London Heathrow route resumed in 2023 after COVID suspension).
From CCU into central Kolkata, several options exist. Pre-paid taxis at the official counter in arrivals charge INR 500 to 900 depending on destination (Park Street, Salt Lake, Howrah, New Alipore) with 45 to 90 minutes' journey time. Uber and Ola operate reliably from the airport pickup area with fares typically INR 350 to 600. Kolkata Metro Line 2 is extending to the airport (airport terminal station planned for 2025-2026 opening) - until then, the nearest Metro station is Noapara via a 10-kilometre bus ride. The AC-2 and AC-37 buses run from the airport to Howrah and Esplanade respectively for INR 50 to 70 but are slow and luggage-unfriendly. Aurum Transfers partners coordinate private sedan and SUV service from CCU for INR 2,200 to 3,800 one way for up to four guests, with meet-and-greet at arrivals - recommended for first-time visitors arriving on late-night Gulf or Southeast Asia flights.
The airport's landside facilities include a multi-level car park (INR 100 per hour, INR 350 daily), meet-and-greet lounges, a Plaza Premium Lounge accessible to Priority Pass and Amex Platinum holders, and several F&B outlets including Cafe Coffee Day, Starbucks, Barista, Haldiram's, and the Taj Bengal airport lounge. The signature Bengali cuisine options at CCU include Oh Calcutta! and Bhojohori Manna kiosks serving local specialities such as biryani, kosha mangsho (slow-cooked mutton), shorshe ilish (mustard hilsa fish), and mishti doi (sweet yogurt) for INR 400 to 900 per meal. Chain options including Pizza Hut, Subway, and McDonald's operate in the domestic terminal.
Transit and layover options are limited. The Radisson Blu Kolkata located 3 kilometres from the terminal runs complimentary 24-hour shuttles and offers both full-day rooms (INR 8,000 to 12,000) and hourly transit rooms (INR 2,500 to 4,500 per 6 hours). The nearer Holiday Inn Kolkata and Pride Plaza Hotel Aerocity sit within 2 to 3 kilometres for similar transit-friendly stays. For ultra-short layovers of 2 to 6 hours, the Plaza Premium Lounge accepts walk-in rates of INR 2,500 to 4,500 per person with shower access, meals, and recliners.
Central Kolkata itself is the primary reason to pass through CCU. The city of around 15 million is the cultural capital of eastern India, with the 1780-founded Asiatic Society of Bengal, the Victoria Memorial (admission INR 50 Indians, INR 500 foreigners), Indian Museum (1814, oldest in India, INR 75 Indians, INR 500 foreigners), St Paul's Cathedral, the Mullick Bari of the Mullick family of merchants, and the Marble Palace. Park Street is the dining and nightlife strip with Victorian-era Flurys (1927, legendary for European pastries, INR 150 to 400 per item), Trincas (1959, live-music restaurant), and the 6 Ballygunge Place chain (contemporary Bengali, INR 700 to 1,200 per person). The Howrah Bridge (Rabindra Setu), the world's busiest cantilever bridge until 1988, spans the Hooghly River to Howrah - a day-and-night architectural icon.
Also available
Compare car rentals in Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Airport
Worldwide network. Powered by GetRentaCar.
Compare GetRentaCar rates →Aurum may earn commission on completed bookings, at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure.
Airport lounge — Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Airport
Aurum Transfers may earn a commission on bookings made through partner links.
Stay connected — pick an eSIM
Install before you land. No roaming fees, no SIM swap at the airport.
Aurum Transfers may earn a commission on bookings made through partner links.
Travel insurance — don't skip it
A single medical bill overseas costs more than a year of coverage.
Aurum Transfers may earn a commission on bookings made through partner links.
Nearby hotels in Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Airport
Kolkata's food scene extends beyond Bengali cuisine. Kathi rolls (kebab-filled parathas, pioneered by Nizam's in 1932, INR 80 to 200 per roll) are the signature street food. Biryani Kolkata-style (with a boiled egg and potato) at Arsalan, Aminia, Shiraz, and Royal runs INR 400 to 900 per portion. Sweets are essential Kolkata cuisine - rosogolla (cottage-cheese balls in syrup), sondesh (milk-based sweets), pantua, mihidana, and sitabhog variations at KC Das (Rosogolla inventor's shop, 1868), Balaram Mullick, and Ganguram all run INR 15 to 80 per piece. Tea culture at the innumerable chai stalls outside Writers' Building and along College Street runs INR 10 to 30 per cup served in disposable clay cups (bhaar).
CCU is operated by the Airports Authority of India and handles approximately 22 million passengers annually, making it India's fifth-busiest airport by traffic. IndiGo uses Kolkata as a major hub for its northeast India and Bhutan operations, with connections to Paro, Bagdogra, Guwahati, Imphal, Agartala, Silchar, Dibrugarh, and Aizawl. Air India Express and Akasa Air have been expanding international routes from CCU to Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Dhaka, and Kathmandu. Business-class lounges are operated by Plaza Premium and Encalm, with day-use access from INR 1800 to 2800 for non-ticketed guests. The consolidated integrated terminal spans 240,000 square metres and includes automated immigration e-gates for Indian passport holders, eight boarding bridges on the international pier, and a dedicated hajj terminal used during pilgrimage seasons.
Beyond Kolkata itself, CCU serves as the main gateway for travellers heading to Darjeeling via Bagdogra (IXB, 90-minute flight or 12-hour overnight train), Sikkim via the new Pakyong airport (PYG), the Andaman Islands via Port Blair (IXZ), and Northeast Indian states including Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Tripura. For international onward travel, direct flights connect Kolkata with Dhaka (45 minutes, several daily), Kathmandu (ninety minutes, 3-5 weekly), Paro Bhutan (75 minutes with Drukair and Bhutan Airlines, requires visa on arrival INR 1200 for Indian citizens), and Yangon Myanmar (2.5 hours, limited weekly). A stopover strategy of 2-3 nights in Kolkata before onward northeast travel makes practical sense given the city's food scene, cultural sights, and reasonable hotel rates compared to Delhi or Mumbai.
Accommodation in Kolkata spans budget to luxury with good value across the board. Backpackers and mid-range travellers stay on Sudder Street and around Park Street where dormitory beds cost INR 500-800 and private rooms run INR 1500-3500 at properties like Hotel VIP International, Sapphire Suites, and The Park Hostel. Boutique and mid-range options include The Lalit Great Eastern Kolkata (INR 6500-9500, heritage building), The Park Kolkata (INR 5500-8500, Park Street location), and Taj Bengal (INR 9000-14000, Alipore). Luxury seekers choose the iconic Oberoi Grand (INR 15000-22000, 130-year-old heritage hotel on Jawaharlal Nehru Road), ITC Royal Bengal (INR 12000-18000), or JW Marriott Kolkata (INR 11000-16500). For airport-proximate stays, Novotel Kolkata Hotel & Residences (INR 7500-11000, shuttle service) and Hyatt Regency Kolkata (INR 9500-14000, 45 minutes to city) offer business-traveller amenities.
Powered by Stay22 — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Practical info & when to visit
Practical notes. Kolkata runs on India Standard Time (UTC+5:30, no daylight saving). The Indian rupee (INR) is the currency; cards including contactless work at Park Street restaurants, hotels, and the airport but cash is common at street vendors, taxis, and smaller businesses. ATMs at State Bank of India, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and Axis Bank accept foreign cards with INR 200 to 400 fees. Tipping is appreciated but not mandatory; 10 percent at restaurants (often added as 'service charge', technically optional) and INR 20-50 for porters and hotel bellhops is standard. Hindi and Bengali are the spoken languages; English is widely spoken in business districts, hotels, airports, and chain restaurants but less in older neighbourhoods. Tap water is not recommended; bottled water runs INR 20 to 40 per litre.
Seasonally, October to March is the comfortable-weather window with temperatures 12 to 28 degrees Celsius and low humidity. December-January is peak with cool pleasant weather and the Kolkata International Book Fair (one of the world's largest), Dover Lane Music Conference (Hindustani classical), and Christmas/New Year celebrations. April-May is very hot (30-40 degrees Celsius) and humid. June-September is monsoon with heavy rainfall, warm temperatures, and frequent street flooding; travel is possible but logistics are more complicated. Durga Puja in October (the city's signature festival) is the peak of peak - book accommodation 6-12 months ahead.
Flight scheduling at CCU has specific patterns. International long-haul flights cluster in late evening and early morning - Emirates to Dubai (22:30 and 03:25), Qatar to Doha (23:00), Thai to Bangkok (22:30), Singapore to Singapore (22:15). British Airways to London Heathrow departs 00:30. Domestic flights to Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Chennai run hourly through the day. Check-in closes 45 minutes before domestic departures and 60 minutes before international. Immigration queues can stretch 30 to 90 minutes during peak late-evening departures; allow 3 hours for international and 2 hours for domestic check-in.
A closing frame: CCU serves as the practical gateway for Kolkata and eastern India visits, including onward connections to Bhutan (Paro via Bangkok or Delhi), Bangladesh (Dhaka direct), and Nepal (Kathmandu direct). Two to four nights in Kolkata covers Victoria Memorial, Indian Museum, Howrah Bridge, Park Street, and the sweet shops; seven days allows extensions to Darjeeling, Sunderbans tiger reserve, or Shantiniketan. For business travellers making single-day Kolkata visits, the airport's 15-kilometre distance to downtown is manageable but traffic unpredictable - plan 2-hour buffers.