Dholera International Airport: Status, Location and Opening Timeline
The Dholera airport is one of the most over-promised dates in the whole project. Here is where it actually stands, and why we present the opening as a target, never as done.
Until it opens, the nearest working airport is Ahmedabad.
Where it is and the specs
The airport has a 3,200 m runway, Code 4E (single runway in Phase 1), a terminal of about 25,000 sq m and a cargo terminal. DURABLE It is about 20 km from Dholera SIR and about 80 km from Ahmedabad. DURABLE
The developer is Dholera International Airport Company Ltd (DIACL), owned by AAI 51%, Gujarat 33% and NICDC 16%. Phase-1 civil works were awarded to Varaha Infrastructure (~Rs 636 cr) and the terminal EPC at about Rs 333 cr. REPORTED
The Dholera International Airport site is about 20 km from Dholera SIR and about 80 km from Ahmedabad. DURABLE Exact distance to a specific plot depends on its TP scheme and location within the SIR.
The current status
Dholera International Airport is not open yet. As of July 2026 it is reported about 80% complete after a review by the Union Civil Aviation Minister, with commercial operations targeted for September-October 2026. TARGET
Be careful with the opening date: the airport has a single runway (3,200 m, Code 4E) and its opening has slipped repeatedly since around 2010, so we present the date as a target, never as achieved. The earlier December 2025 target was missed.
The airport is developed by Dholera International Airport Company Ltd (DIACL), a joint venture of the Airports Authority of India (51%), Gujarat (33%) and NICDC (16%), with GACL often cited as operator. DURABLE Phase-1 civil works were awarded to Varaha Infrastructure (~Rs 636 cr) and the terminal EPC at about Rs 333 cr. REPORTED Construction is reported underway, ~80% complete.
A possible aircraft factory
Embraer and Adani signed an MoU exploring Dholera airport as a possible site for a Make in India civil-aircraft final-assembly line, targeted around 2028. REPORTED This is at MoU stage and the site is not finalised, so it should be treated as an announcement, not a committed factory.
Getting there today
The Dholera International Airport is being built about 20 km from Dholera SIR, but it is not operational yet (reported ~80% complete, operations targeted late 2026). TARGET Until it opens, the nearest working airport is Ahmedabad (Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International), about 100 km away, roughly 40 minutes to 1 hour via the expressway. REPORTED
FAQ
Is the Dholera airport ready or open?
Dholera International Airport is not open yet. As of July 2026 it is reported about 80% complete after a review by the Union Civil Aviation Minister, with commercial operations targeted for September-October 2026. TARGET
Be careful with the opening date: the airport has a single runway (3,200 m, Code 4E) and its opening has slipped repeatedly since around 2010, so we present the date as a target, never as achieved. The earlier December 2025 target was missed.
What is the nearest airport to Dholera?
The Dholera International Airport is being built about 20 km from Dholera SIR, but it is not operational yet (reported ~80% complete, operations targeted late 2026). TARGET Until it opens, the nearest working airport is Ahmedabad (Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International), about 100 km away, roughly 40 minutes to 1 hour via the expressway. REPORTED
Is an aircraft factory coming to Dholera airport?
Embraer and Adani signed an MoU exploring Dholera airport as a possible site for a Make in India civil-aircraft final-assembly line, targeted around 2028. REPORTED This is at MoU stage and the site is not finalised, so it should be treated as an announcement, not a committed factory.
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