Porbandar Airport, Porbandar: Terminal, Code, Location, Connectivity and Amenities

Porbandar is a coastal city in Saurashtra with two identities that pull in opposite directions — it is the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi, a fact that gives it pilgrimage significance among those tracing his life, and it is an active fishing port and industrial town where trawlers and cement plants define the working economy. Porbandar Airport carries both identities quietly, serving a city that has had scheduled commercial flights since the 1980s, lost them all by 2020, and regained a Mumbai connection in March 2025 through SpiceJet. It sits within a joint civil-military facility shared with the Indian Navy’s INAS 343 squadron and the Indian Coast Guard — a tri-presence arrangement that makes it one of the more operationally layered small airports in India.

Quick Overview: Porbandar Airport

Porbandar Airport Location: Between the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Kutch

Porbandar Airport is located approximately 5 to 6 kilometres from Porbandar city centre. The coordinates are 21°38′55″N, 69°39′26″E, at an elevation of 17 to 26 feet above mean sea level — reflecting the flat coastline of this part of Saurashtra where the peninsula meets the Arabian Sea. A taxi from the terminal to central Porbandar takes approximately 10 minutes.

The airport’s coastal position in western Saurashtra puts it within the operational zone of the Indian Navy’s maritime patrol capabilities — hence the presence of INAS 343 (the UAV squadron commissioned in 2011) and the Indian Coast Guard’s CGAE Porbandar station. Both military arms operate from the same aerodrome complex as the civil terminal, making Porbandar one of only a handful of airports in India with simultaneous Navy, Coast Guard, and commercial aviation operations.

For those following the Gandhi trail, the Kirti Mandir — the memorial museum at Gandhi’s birthplace — is in Porbandar city, approximately 6 kilometres from the airport. Sudama Mandir, the famous friendship temple dedicated to Krishna’s childhood friend, is also in the city. The coastline here hosts the only known nesting site in India of the Olive Ridley sea turtle within an urban stretch.

Porbandar Airport Code: IATA PBD and ICAO VAPR

The airport’s IATA code is PBD and its ICAO code is VAPR. PBD is the identifier used in airline booking systems, boarding passes, and baggage handling. VAPR places it in the VA western India block. The official name per AAI is Civil Aerodrome, Porbandar, though Porbandar Airport is used universally in travel directories and booking platforms.

Porbandar Airport Terminal: 2008 Building on a 278-Acre Naval Aerodrome

The current terminal at Porbandar Airport was built in April 2008, replacing an older structure that had served the airport since the commercial flight era began in the 1980s. The terminal covers approximately 4,000 square metres with six check-in counters, two baggage conveyor belts, and a combined peak-hour capacity of 100 arriving and 100 departing passengers simultaneously. The arrival hall and departure lounge are separated within a single compact building.

The runway at 4,500 feet (1,372 metres) is asphalt-surfaced and capable of accommodating Boeing 737 and ATR-72 class aircraft. The apron can park two such aircraft simultaneously. The airport is not equipped for night instrument landing — operations are under visual flight rules (VFR) with limited air traffic control services, which constrains the operating hours and the type of flights that can be scheduled.

Porbandar had scheduled connections to Ahmedabad, Delhi, and Mumbai from the 1980s onwards, served at various points by Indian Airlines, Jet Airways, Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet. All commercial services were discontinued in 2020. SpiceJet revived the Mumbai route in March 2025 with daily operations — a service the airline had previously run on the Porbandar–Mumbai sector before 2019 and again briefly in 2021. The passenger count of 694 in 2024–25 reflects a partial year of this revival rather than a full annual cycle, since the resumption occurred partway through that statistical period.

Porbandar Airport Connectivity: SpiceJet to Mumbai Daily

By Air: SpiceJet operates a daily flight between Porbandar and Mumbai. Each sector takes approximately 1 hour 33 minutes. About 12 flights per week operate on this service as of mid-2026. Mumbai is the only scheduled commercial destination from PBD. For connections to other cities, passengers route through Mumbai. Confirm current schedule and operating days with SpiceJet before travel — thin-route services at this scale of airport are subject to frequency adjustment.

By Road: Taxis are the most practical ground transport from the airport. The fare to central Porbandar is approximately ₹150 to ₹250. Public buses take approximately 50 minutes for the same 5 to 6 km journey due to routing. Hotel pickup is available if pre-arranged. App-based cabs are available though supply can be limited at the airport’s arrival times.

By Rail: Porbandar Railway Station is approximately 5 to 6 km from the airport, at the western terminus of the Rajkot–Porbandar broad-gauge line. The rail journey to Rajkot takes approximately 3 hours, connecting Porbandar into the broader Saurashtra network.

Nearest Alternative Airport: Keshod Airport (IXK) at approximately 120 km is the nearest airport with an UDAN-scheme service. Jamnagar Airport (JGA) at approximately 200 km is the nearest with more regular jet airline connectivity.

Porbandar Airport Amenities: Basic Naval Enclave Terminal

Porbandar Airport’s amenities are minimal and consistent with a terminal that sees fewer than 1,000 passengers in its leanest statistical years. The 2008 terminal has clean restrooms, basic seating, and check-in facilities for SpiceJet. Drinking water is available. The terminal is compact enough that the entirety of the passenger experience — check-in to security to boarding — takes place within easy walking distance of the entrance.

There is no commercial lounge, no duty-free retail, and no multi-cuisine food outlet. Basic refreshments may be available near the terminal exit. The presence of the Indian Navy and Coast Guard means passengers encounter security protocols appropriate to a military enclave. Arriving at least 90 minutes before departure is advisable.

Parking for approximately 50 vehicles is available near the terminal. The combined civil-military presence of AAI, Indian Navy INAS 343, and CGAE Porbandar gives the airport a distinctly institutional character — functional and security-oriented rather than passenger-comfort oriented. For pilgrimage visitors to Gandhi’s birthplace arriving from Mumbai, it is simply the fastest door available.

FAQs: Porbandar Airport

Q1. What is the IATA code for Porbandar Airport?

A: The IATA code is PBD and the ICAO code is VAPR. The official name is Civil Aerodrome, Porbandar, managed by AAI.

Q2. Which airline currently flies from Porbandar Airport?

A: SpiceJet operates a daily Mumbai–Porbandar service, resumed in March 2025. This is currently the only scheduled commercial route from PBD. Confirm the current schedule before booking.

Q3. When did Porbandar Airport lose its commercial flights and when were they restored?

A: All scheduled commercial flights from Porbandar were discontinued in 2020. SpiceJet revived the Mumbai service in March 2025 after a five-year gap — though brief SpiceJet operations had also run at Porbandar in 2019 and 2021.

Q4. Who shares the aerodrome with civilian operations at Porbandar?

A: The airport is shared between AAI’s civil operations, Indian Navy’s INAS 343 UAV squadron (commissioned 2011), and the Indian Coast Guard’s CGAE Porbandar station. This makes it a tri-service civil aerodrome — a fairly unusual arrangement even within India’s network of joint military-civil airports.

Q5. How far is Porbandar Airport from Gandhi’s birthplace?

A: The Kirti Mandir memorial museum at Mahatma Gandhi’s birthplace is approximately 6 km from the airport in central Porbandar, around 10 to 15 minutes by taxi.