Hyderabad Rajiv Gandhi Intl Airport (HYD) Flights & Information

There are ample reasons why Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (HYD) has rightly made it to the world’s 100 best airports lists time and again. A greenfield airport, HYD handles about 25 million passengers a year through 20 international and 9 domestic carriers. Yet in its stunning features and detailing, the airport has made the experience smooth – and even likeable – for every passenger that visits.

At this Hyderabad airport you’ll find end-to-end digital processes, extensive leisure activities and even sensory pleasures like soothing fragrance and calming music wafting throughout the entire span of the airport. Here’s what else you’ll find when you visit HYD.

Airport layout

Hyderabad airport is massive, with over 100 boarding gates and perpetually expanding. The entire area caters to both international and domestic flights in a single terminal. There’s ample signage everywhere, but the layout can often get confusing for first-time visitors. Just go slow, lest you end up wasting too much time and energy shuffling back and forth.

The space is divided into various levels even at the outset. Upon arrival, you can exit to a shaded promenade with various cafés and dining spots. This is arrival level D, which also includes the Transit by Encalm hotel for airport accommodation. One level down from here is access to the Aero Plaza (more below) and app-based taxi parking.

One level up from D is the departure area. Domestic flights run from the eastern end, while international flights run from the western side.

Check-in and security

HYD typically sees large crowds and is one of the busiest airports in the country. There are ample security gates at HYD, but many of them only become operational during peak travel times. I’ve found the security personnel to be intimidatingly stern sometimes, but stringent security isn’t necessarily a bad thing at an airport.

HYD is in the process of expanding an external check-in facility that allows travelers to check-in and drop their luggage outside the airport near the bus and cab pickup area without having to drag everything inside. This facility is currently only for domestic travelers, so if you’re traveling within the country note that you can drop your bags off 6 hours to 90 minutes before your flight through this facility.

There are many immigration counters at the departures and arrivals areas and the process is generally smooth. But when times get busy, many travelers have ended up waiting up to 2 hours at immigration due to slow processing, stringent checking and sometimes even limited open counters.

Terminal entertainment and navigation at HYD

The boarding area is full of Indian and international shopping brands. Interestingly, there are interactive counters throughout the terminal and I love engaging with them. I have made my own perfume at one and even enjoyed experimenting with motorbike displays at another, even though I’m never going to buy a vehicle at the airport.

Once you’re tired from all the walking around, the simple comfort of finding a chair gets difficult as there are almost always too many people for the very sparse seating available. Do your best to enjoy the shops and interactive experiences as long as possible, unless you’re happy to sit on the floor.

There are free cart rides to help senior citizens, pregnant women and persons with disabilities navigate through the airport. The pickup point is right after the security check. Moving walkways make traversing on foot with luggage easier. Baby strollers and wheelchairs are readily available and can be requested in the departure area or when exiting a flight.

Getting to and from HYD by public transportation

Sitting at the southern edge of the city, HYD can seem extremely far from most major hotspots and popular sights. Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) runs regular Pushpak buses connecting the airport to almost all places in Hyderabad.

You can book a TSRTC bus ticket at the counter beyond the baggage carousels in arrival level D, and the bus pick-up occurs every 20 minutes at the curb outside. Buses here can be costlier than bus lines in many other major cities but are still the cheapest way of getting around in Hyderabad.

If you’d like to try the extensive and reliable metro system in Hyderabad, catch a bus from the airport to Mehdipatnam and hop on the metro from there. I’ve found conversing in Hyderabad a little difficult owing to the language barrier, so I would recommend going hyperlocal only if you’re prepared with all the information you will need – locals might not be able to understand your questions.

Getting to and from HYD by car

There are radio taxis like Skycabs and Meru, app-based taxis through services like Ola and Uber, and pre-booked airport taxis available at Hyderabad airport. But taxi fares can get really high thanks to the very long distances and inflated rates. Drivers tend to charge even more during the night.

There’s a massive taxi parking area one level below arrivals, but finding a cab is usually a pain due to the large space and innumerable taxis. The pre-paid taxi booth here is good to seek information if needed.

Be wary of taxi drivers and “brokers” who come pestering you to book a taxi with them the moment you get off the escalator. Most of them are out to loot you and have no system of accountability, so avoid rides from them.

I prefer booking my cab through an app and coordinating with my driver directly. An Uber Premier costs more but skips the long lines and arrives quickly. Another alternative is to book SkyCabs, which is comparatively more expensive but arrives directly at the curb on the arrivals level.

Things to do during a layover

HYD offers free WiFi for up to 45 minutes, and the connection and speed is quite reliable. There’s a designated Wi-Fi desk in the departures area right after security where you can gain a password if you don’t have the otherwise required local phone number. After 45 minutes, Wi-Fi is available for a fee.

Aero Plaza is the food hub at the parking level of HYD. The open-air courtyard is surrounded with air-conditioned restaurants and an open plan food court. Here, you’ll find everything from McDonald’s to local food joints and bars.

Beyond munching, you can also pass the time at the go-karting track beyond the parking area or at the zombie-themed virtual reality section. The prices are way higher than similar experiences anywhere else in the city, and the facilities can sometimes be shut or unavailable, but it’s something to do if you have a lot of time to kill. This is outside of security, though.

On the same level, JPods offers beds as well as showering facilities. It can be easy to miss, but you’ll find it to the left, a few steps beyond the Aero Plaza near the escalator leading to arrivals. This can be booked by anyone, and for as little as 3 hours at a time. One level above, Transit by Encalm is a hotel offering similar facilities at a slightly higher rate.

Lounges and alternatives

Priority Pass members have free access to 2 Encalm lounges at Hyderabad Airport. There’s one each in both the domestic and international departures areas (by Gates 21 and 23B, respectively). Both accept a wide variety of eligible credit cards for free access, too, or you can purchase a day pass for entry.

I have found the Encalm lounges to be nicer than many other lounges I’ve seen, with plush leather sofas and warm lighting. However, there’s almost always a line to get in so prepare to wait a bit before entry.

For domestic travelers with qualifying tickets or Star Alliance Gold status, there’s also an Air India Maharajah Lounge near Gate 22.

On the departures level, you’ll find massage chairs as well as the Ode Spa for neck and foot massages. I find the prices unreasonably high here, though, so I don’t recommend stopping in unless you’re desperate for a treatment.