Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Varanasi: Terminal, Code, Location, Connectivity and Amenities

Varanasi is among the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world — the Mahabharata describes it as sacred, the Rigveda locates spiritual traditions here, and Lord Shiva is said to have made it his abode. Pilgrims have been arriving at the Kashi Vishwanath temple and the Manikarnika and Dashashwamedh ghats for over 2,500 years. Sarnath, 10 km away, is where the Buddha delivered his First Sermon after enlightenment. This is the city that Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport serves. Named in 2005 after India’s second Prime Minister who was born in UP and whose simplicity and integrity remain benchmarks of Indian leadership, the airport carries IATA code VNS and ICAO code VEBN. Handling 43,43,347 passengers in 2025–26 (+7.8%) and ranking as UP’s second-busiest airport, it is now undergoing a ₹2,869.65 crore expansion — a 75,000 sq. metre new terminal (6 MPPA), runway extension to 4,075 metres, and a unique highway tunnel beneath the runway to accommodate NH-31. Announcements in Sanskrit remain a unique cultural touch.

Quick Overview: Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport

Varanasi Airport Location: Babatpur, Northwest Gateway to the Spiritual Capital

Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport is located at Babatpur, approximately 26 km northwest of Varanasi city centre. The coordinates are 25°27′08″N, 82°51′34″E, at an elevation of 82 metres — the flat alluvial plains of eastern Uttar Pradesh.

Varanasi’s geography of pilgrimage is dense. The 84 ghats along the Ganga span approximately 6.5 km of river frontage, with Dashashwamedh Ghat (the main ghat), Manikarnika Ghat (the sacred cremation ground), and Assi Ghat forming the spiritual anchors. The Kashi Vishwanath Temple — one of the 12 Jyotirlingas — is within walking distance of the ghats. The new Kashi Vishwanath Corridor (opened December 2021) has dramatically improved access to the temple and enhanced the pilgrim experience.

The runway’s proposed extension to 4,075 metres requires crossing NH-31 — a unique engineering solution involving a highway tunnel beneath the runway. This is the same concept used at Gibraltar Airport (where a road crosses the runway at grade level) but India’s version takes the highway underneath — one of the country’s most unusual aviation infrastructure challenges.

Code, Terminal and ₹2,869.65 Crore Expansion

IATA VNS and ICAO VEBN are the formal codes. The current terminal handles 3.9 million passengers annually. An integrated terminal was inaugurated in 2010 with a design inspired by Varanasi’s temple architecture — the terminal features decorative elements drawn from the city’s ghat iconography and was awarded Best Airport in Asia-Pacific (2 to 5 million passengers category) by ACI in 2020.

Sanskrit Announcements: Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport is the first airport in India to make public announcements in Sanskrit — reflecting Varanasi’s status as the world’s oldest living centre of Sanskrit scholarship and learning.

₹2,869.65 Crore Expansion: Cabinet approval was granted for a comprehensive development programme including a new terminal building of 75,000 square metres (designed for 6 MPPA and 5,000 peak-hour passengers), apron extension, runway extension from 2,750 metres to 4,075 metres, a parallel taxiway, and the NH-31 underpass. Total post-expansion capacity: 9.9 MPPA. Completion targeted by March 2027.

Airlines serving VNS include IndiGo (multiple domestic routes), Air India, Air India Express (Bangkok and Sharjah international, plus domestic), Akasa Air, and SpiceJet. Domestic routes cover Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Bhubaneswar, Durgapur, and Ghaziabad (Hindon).

Connectivity and Amenities

By Air (Domestic): IndiGo dominates frequency with connections to all major Indian cities. Akasa Air, Air India, and SpiceJet add capacity on trunk routes.

By Air (International): Air India Express serves Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) and Sharjah. Additional international routes are expected post-expansion.

By Road: City centre (Dashashwamedh Ghat area) is ~26 km (~45 to 60 minutes). Air-conditioned electric buses connect the city and airport. Ola and Uber serve the route. Pre-paid taxis to Sangam, Prayagraj are approximately ₹2,000 to ₹2,500 (120 km).

By Rail: Varanasi Junction (Kashi Station) and Manduadih (Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction nearby) connect to Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and all major cities. Varanasi Cantt Station is approximately 28 km from the airport.

Amenities: Temple-inspired terminal architecture, check-in counters for all airlines, immigration and customs (international), duty-free shopping for international passengers, restaurants serving Kashi’s distinctive street food (thandai, malaiyyo, tamatar chaat), Sanskrit announcements, lounges for premium passengers, ATMs, Wi-Fi, and wheelchair assistance.

FAQs: Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport

Q1. What is the IATA code for Varanasi Airport?

VNS is the IATA code and VEBN is the ICAO code. The official name is Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, at Babatpur, approximately 26 km northwest of Varanasi.

Q2. What is the unique cultural feature of Varanasi Airport?

It is the first airport in India to make public announcements in Sanskrit — the ancient language that Varanasi has preserved and propagated for over 2,500 years as the world’s oldest living centre of Sanskrit scholarship.

Q3. What is the ₹2,869.65 crore expansion project?

Cabinet-approved expansion includes a new 75,000 sq. metre terminal (6 MPPA, 5,000 peak-hour passengers), runway extension from 2,750 m to 4,075 m, parallel taxiway, apron extension, and an NH-31 highway tunnel beneath the runway. Total capacity will reach 9.9 MPPA by March 2027.

Q4. What international flights operate from Varanasi Airport\Air India Express flies to Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) and Sharjah as scheduled international services.

Q5. How far is Varanasi Airport from Sarnath?

Sarnath — where the Buddha delivered his First Sermon — is approximately 16 km from the airport, about 25 to 30 minutes by road.