Bagdogra International Airport (IXB) – Gateway to North Bengal & Sikkim
Bagdogra International Airport (IATA: IXB, ICAO: VEBD) is one of the most important airports in Eastern India, serving as the gateway to Darjeeling, Sikkim, Bhutan, and North Bengal. Located about 11 km from Siliguri, in West Bengal, this airport connects remote Himalayan regions to major Indian cities and select international destinations.
Bagdogra Airport is operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and functions as a civil enclave under the Indian Air Force (IAF). In 2023, it received the international status, further enhancing its strategic and tourism significance.
? Overview
Surrounded by scenic tea gardens and the foothills of the Himalayas, Bagdogra Airport provides a serene travel experience. It handles a growing volume of both domestic and international traffic, with flights connecting to Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Guwahati, Bengaluru, Chennai, Paro (Bhutan), and Bangkok.
It also acts as a critical access point for travelers heading to Darjeeling, Gangtok, Kalimpong, and Dooars.
? Bagdogra International Airport – Quick Information
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Airport Name | Bagdogra International Airport |
| IATA Code | IXB |
| ICAO Code | VEBD |
| Location | Siliguri, West Bengal, India |
| Distance from Siliguri City Center | 11 km |
| Distance from Darjeeling | 70 km |
| Distance from Gangtok (Sikkim) | 125 km |
| Operator | Airports Authority of India (AAI) |
| Type | Civil Enclave / International |
| Runway Length | 9,000 ft (2,743 meters) |
| Elevation | 412 ft (126 m) |
| Terminals | 1 Passenger Terminal |
| Annual Passenger Traffic | ~3 million (approx.) |
| Official Website | https://www.aai.aero/en/airports/bagdogra |
? Airlines and Destinations
Bagdogra International Airport is well-connected by several major airlines:
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Air India – Flights to Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai
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IndiGo – Major domestic routes and regional connectivity
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SpiceJet – Flights to Delhi, Bengaluru, and international routes
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Vistara – Premium flights to Delhi and Mumbai
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Druk Air (Royal Bhutan Airlines) – Flights to Paro and Bangkok
✈️ Popular Routes
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Bagdogra ➜ Delhi
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Bagdogra ➜ Kolkata
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Bagdogra ➜ Guwahati
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Bagdogra ➜ Paro (Bhutan)
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Bagdogra ➜ Bengaluru
? Connectivity & Transport Options
By Road:
Bagdogra Airport is well connected by NH-10 and NH-31. Regular taxis and buses are available to Siliguri, Darjeeling, and Gangtok.
By Rail:
The nearest railway station is New Jalpaiguri (NJP), located about 16 km away, offering nationwide rail connectivity.
By Bus:
The Siliguri Bus Terminal (Tenzing Norgay Bus Stand) is around 12 km from the airport, providing routes across North Bengal and Sikkim.
? Facilities at Bagdogra International Airport
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Single integrated passenger terminal (domestic + international)
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ATMs, currency exchange, and prepaid taxi counters
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Food court, café, and retail stores
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VIP lounge and restrooms
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Medical assistance and child care facilities
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Car rental and parking services
The airport is known for its clean layout, helpful staff, and proximity to scenic destinations.
? Tourist Destinations Near Bagdogra
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Darjeeling (70 km) – The Queen of Hills
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Gangtok (125 km) – Capital of Sikkim
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Kalimpong (80 km) – Peaceful hill retreat
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Dooars Region (90 km) – Famous for tea gardens and wildlife
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Mirik (47 km) – Serene lake and mountain views
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🛫 Popular Airports in India
Below is a quick reference table of some of India’s busiest airports, their IATA codes, and the cities they serve:
🌍 Popular International Airports
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| # | Airport Name | IATA Code | Country | Logo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Humberside Airport | HUY | United Kingdom | N/A |
| 2 | Teesside International | MME | United Kingdom | N/A |
| 3 | Cazombo Airport | CAV | Angola |
|
| 4 | Quatro De Fevereiro International Airport | LAD | Angola |
|
| 5 | Sharana Airstrip | OAS | Afghanistan |
|
| 6 | Brighton City | ESH | United Kingdom |
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| 7 | Catumbela Airport | CBT | Angola |
|
| 8 | Bournemouth | BOH | United Kingdom |
|
| 9 | Zaranj Airport | ZAJ | Afghanistan |
|
| 10 | Manchester | MAN | United Kingdom | N/A |
| 11 | Kukës International Airport Zayed | KFZ | Albania |
|
| 12 | Inverness Airport | INV | United Kingdom | N/A |
| 13 | Bristol | BRS | United Kingdom |
|
| 14 | Albano Machado Airport | NOV | Angola |
|
| 15 | Coventry Airport Limited | CVT | United Kingdom |
|
| 16 | Cuito Cuanavale Airport | CTI | Angola |
|
| 17 | London Gatwick | LGW | United Kingdom | N/A |
| 18 | Andorra La Vella | ALV | Andorra |
|
| 19 | Ondjiva Pereira Airport | VPE | Angola |
|
| 20 | Cafunfo Airport | CFF | Angola |
|
| 21 | London Southend | SEN | United Kingdom | N/A |
| 22 | Dundo Airport | DUE | Angola |
|
| 23 | Wycombe Air Park | HYC | United Kingdom | N/A |
| 24 | Houari Boumediene Airport | ALG | Algeria |
|
| 25 | Ghazni Airport | GZI | Afghanistan |
|
| 26 | Khwahan Airport | KWH | Afghanistan |
|
| 27 | Penzance Heliport | PZE | United Kingdom | N/A |
| 28 | Jalalabad Airport | JAA | Afghanistan |
|
| 29 | Dundee | DND | United Kingdom |
|
| 30 | City Of Derry | LDY | United Kingdom |
|
| 31 | East Midlands | EMA | United Kingdom |
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| 32 | Jamba Airport | JMB | Angola |
|
| 33 | Dubai International Airport | DXB | United Arab Emirates |
|
| 34 | Southampton | SOU | United Kingdom | N/A |
| 35 | Birmingham | BHX | United Kingdom |
|
| 36 | Norwich | NWI | United Kingdom | N/A |
| 37 | London City | LCY | United Kingdom | N/A |
| 38 | Lucapa Airport | LBZ | Angola |
|
| 39 | Cornwall Airport Newquay | NQY | United Kingdom |
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| 40 | Guernsey | GCI | United Kingdom | N/A |
| 41 | Kuran Wa Munjan Airport | KUR | Afghanistan |
|
| 42 | Syunik Airport | YUK | Armenia |
|
| 43 | Cabinda Airport | CAB | Angola |
|
| 44 | Khwaja Abdullah Ansari International Airport | HEA | Afghanistan | N/A |
| 45 | Shirak International Airport | LWN | Armenia |
|
| 46 | Jersey | JER | United Kingdom | N/A |
| 47 | Gardez Airport | GRG | Afghanistan |
|
| 48 | Wick John O'Groats | WIC | United Kingdom | N/A |
| 49 | Farah Airport | FAH | Afghanistan |
|
| 50 | Exeter | EXT | United Kingdom |
|
| 51 | Waco Kungo Airport | CEO | Angola |
|
| 52 | Alderney | ACI | United Kingdom |
|
| 53 | Nili Airport | NLI | Afghanistan |
|
| 54 | Lumbala Airport | GGC | Angola |
|
| 55 | London Stansted | STN | United Kingdom | N/A |
| 56 | V. C. Bird International Airport | ANU | Antigua And Barbuda |
|
| 57 | Malanje Airport | MEG | Angola |
|
| 58 | Soyo Airport | SZA | Angola |
|
| 59 | Liverpool John Lennon | LPL | United Kingdom | N/A |
| 60 | N'zeto Airport | ARZ | Angola |
|
| 61 | Chitato Airport | PGI | Angola |
|
| 62 | Ronaldsway | IOM | Isle Of Man | N/A |
| 63 | Farnborough | FAB | United Kingdom | N/A |
| 64 | Sheberghan Airport | SBH | Afghanistan | N/A |
| 65 | Saurimo Airport | VHC | Angola | N/A |
| 66 | Zvartnots International Airport | EVN | Armenia |
|
| 67 | Fayzabad Airport | FBD | Afghanistan |
|
| 68 | Leeds Bradford | LBA | United Kingdom | N/A |
| 69 | Maymana Airport | MMZ | Afghanistan |
|
| 70 | Tarinkot Airport | TII | Afghanistan |
|
| 71 | Benguela Airport | BUG | Angola |
|
| 72 | Sumburgh | LSI | United Kingdom | N/A |
| 73 | George Best Belfast City | BHD | United Kingdom | N/A |
| 74 | Heathrow | LHR | United Kingdom | N/A |
| 75 | Edinburgh | EDI | United Kingdom |
|
| 76 | Luau Airport | UAL | Angola | N/A |
| 77 | Oxford | OXF | United Kingdom | N/A |
| 78 | Nzagi Airport | NZA | Angola |
|
| 79 | Blackpool Airport | BLK | United Kingdom |
|
| 80 | Dubai Creek Seaplane Base (Heliport) | DCG | United Arab Emirates |
|
| 81 | Andorra–La Seu D'Urgell Airport | LEU | Andorra |
|
| 82 | Al Maktoum International Airport (Dubai World Central) | DWC | United Arab Emirates |
|
| 83 | Joaquim Kapango Airport | SVP | Angola |
|
| 84 | Menongue Airport | SPP | Angola |
|
| 85 | Porto Amboim Airport | PBN | Angola |
|
| 86 | Negage Airport | GXG | Angola |
|
| 87 | Vlora International Airport | VLO | Albania |
|
| 88 | Glasgow | GLA | United Kingdom | N/A |
| 89 | Lubango Airport | SDD | Angola |
|
| 90 | Bamyan Airport | BIN | Afghanistan |
|
| 91 | Manston International | MSE | United Kingdom | N/A |
| 92 | Cambridge City | CBG | United Kingdom |
|
| 93 | Taloqan Airport | TQN | Afghanistan |
|
| 94 | Sheghnan Airport | SGA | Afghanistan |
|
| 95 | Benbecula | BEB | United Kingdom |
|
| 96 | London Luton | LTN | United Kingdom | N/A |
| 97 | Urgun Airport | URN | Afghanistan |
|
| 98 | Kirkwall | KOI | United Kingdom | N/A |
| 99 | N'dalatando Airport | NDF | Angola |
|
| 100 | Bagram Air Base | OAI | Afghanistan |
|
| 101 | Burton–Nibbs International Airport | BBQ | Antigua And Barbuda |
|
| 102 | Carlisle Lake District | CAX | United Kingdom |
|
| 103 | Stornoway | SYY | United Kingdom | N/A |
| 104 | Newcastle International | NCL | United Kingdom | N/A |
| 105 | Land's End | LEQ | United Kingdom | N/A |
| 106 | Qala I Naw Airport | LQN | Afghanistan |
|
| 107 | Kabul International Airport | KBL | Afganistan |
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| 108 | Khost International Airport | KHT | Afghanistan |
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| 109 | Chaghcharan Airport | CCN | Afghanistan |
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| 110 | Luena Airport | LUO | Angola |
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| 111 | Cuango-Luzamba Airport | LZM | Angola |
|
| 112 | Glasgow Prestwick | PIK | United Kingdom | N/A |
| 113 | Uíge Airport | UGO | Angola |
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| 114 | Welwitschia Mirabilis International Airport | MSZ | Angola |
|
| 115 | Sardeh Band Airport | SBF | Afghanistan |
|
| 116 | Darwaz Airport | DAZ | Afghanistan |
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| 117 | Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza | TIA | Albania |
|
| 118 | Aberdeen International | ABZ | United Kingdom |
|
| 119 | Saint Mary's / Isles Of Scilly | ISC | United Kingdom | N/A |
| 120 | Uruzgan Airport | URZ | Afghanistan |
|
| 121 | Kapanda Airport | KNP | Angola |
|
| 122 | Ahmad Shah Baba International Airport | KDH | Afghanistan |
|
| 123 | Mawlānā Jalāl Ad-Din Muhammad Balkhī Intl Airport | MZR | Afghanistan |
|
| 124 | Belfast International | BFS | United Kingdom |
|
| 125 | Sumbe Airport | NDD | Angola |
|
| 126 | Kunduz Airport | UND | Afghanistan |
|
| 127 | Dirico Airport | DRC | Angola |
|
| 128 | Cardiff | CWL | United Kingdom |
|
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Where is Bagdogra International Airport located?
Bagdogra Airport is located near Siliguri, in Darjeeling district of West Bengal, India.
2. How far is Bagdogra Airport from Gangtok?
It is approximately 125 km away, taking around 4 hours by road.
3. Does Bagdogra Airport have international flights?
Yes, Bagdogra has limited international flights to Paro (Bhutan) and Bangkok, and may expand in the future.
4. Which airlines operate from Bagdogra?
Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, Vistara, and Druk Air operate regular flights from Bagdogra.
5. What is the best time to travel through Bagdogra?
The ideal time is October to May, when weather conditions are pleasant for hill travel.