Prayagraj Airport (IXD) in 2026 — the Kumbh-boosted terminal, routes and what the surge left behind
By Aarav Sharma (Aarav Sharma writes about Indian airport infrastructure, tier-2 and regional hubs, and the route networks of Indian carriers. He tracks AAI terminal projects, UDAN regional connectivity awards and the Gulf expansion of IndiGo, Air India Express and Akasa for FlightGPT readers.) · Published · Last updated · 10 min read
Prayagraj's Bamrauli airport went from a sleepy civil enclave to a national talking point during Maha Kumbh 2025, when it handled record crowds. Here's the grounded 2026 guide — what was upgraded, and what stayed.
Quick answer
Prayagraj Airport (IATA IXD, ICAO VEAB), at Bamrauli, about 13 km from the city, is a civil enclave at an Indian Air Force base serving Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad), Uttar Pradesh — one of India's oldest airports. It was massively upgraded ahead of Maha Kumbh 2025: check-in counters jumped from 8 to about 42, conveyor belts from 2 to 5, and gates from 4 to 11, with a new taxiway. During the festival it set records — over 20,000 passengers and 120+ flights in a single day, and 5.59 lakh passengers across 46 days. As of 2026, post-Kumbh, the carriers are IndiGo, Alliance Air, SpiceJet and Akasa Air, flying Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and more. Verify the live schedule on the AAI/airline sites.
Prayagraj, the Kumbh, and why the airport matters
Prayagraj sits at the Triveni Sangam — the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati — and is one of Hinduism's most sacred cities. Every 12 years it hosts the Maha Kumbh Mela, the largest human gathering on Earth, drawing hundreds of millions of pilgrims over several weeks. Maha Kumbh 2025 was such an event, and it transformed the airport's profile overnight.
For most of its long history, Bamrauli was a quiet civil enclave at an IAF base — a handful of flights serving Allahabad/Prayagraj. The Kumbh changed the calculus: the government invested heavily to expand the terminal and add routes so that pilgrims could fly in. The airport is also a useful gateway for the wider eastern UP region. For pilgrimage-season planning generally, see our Char Dham booking-windows guide.
The Kumbh upgrade — what actually changed
The pre-Kumbh expansion was dramatic for a tier-2 civil enclave. As reported by the AAI and widely covered in the run-up to 2025:
- Check-in counters: from about 8 to around 42.
- Baggage conveyor belts: from 2 to 5.
- Gates: from 4 to 11.
- A new taxiway plus expanded security lanes and passenger-flow systems.
The payoff showed during the festival: the airport reported a record single-day count of over 22,000 passengers, managed 120 scheduled flights and over 20,000 passengers on 16 February 2025, and handled around 5.59 lakh passengers across the 46 days of the festival. Direct destinations rose from roughly 8 cities before the Kumbh to around 17 at the peak, as airlines piled on capacity.
Post-Kumbh routes — the 2026 reality
Here's the honest part about a festival-driven surge: a lot of the extra capacity is seasonal, scaled up for the Kumbh and then trimmed back as crowds subside. So the 2026 network sits somewhere between the sleepy pre-Kumbh map and the festival peak. As of 2026 the carriers include IndiGo, Alliance Air, SpiceJet and Akasa Air, with typical links to:
- Delhi — the core trunk and main gateway.
- Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad — metro business and onward-connection links.
- Regional/UDAN points such as Bhubaneswar, Raipur, Dehradun, Lucknow and Ahmedabad depending on the season.
If you saw a route operate during the Kumbh, don't assume it's still flying — verify the current schedule. The good news is the expanded terminal stays, so even the trimmed network runs through a far more capable building than before. Compare current options on FlightGPT, and for the broader region see our Varanasi guide (a natural pairing with Prayagraj).
Civil enclave notes and getting to the airport
Bamrauli is a civil enclave at an IAF base, so the usual defence-airfield rules apply: strict security, and restrictions on photographing the apron and military areas. Keep that in mind when you arrive.
The airport is about 13 km from central Prayagraj and roughly 12 km from Prayagraj Junction railway station — typically a 20-30 minute drive.
- Taxi / app cabs — the main option; during the Kumbh, special transport arrangements operated, but for normal travel use standard cabs.
- Rail — Prayagraj is a major rail hub; many travellers combine a train with a short cab to Bamrauli.
- Auto-rickshaws — available for the city run.
Practical tips for flying IXD in 2026
- Verify post-Kumbh routes: much of the 2025 surge capacity was seasonal — confirm your route is still operating before booking.
- The terminal upgrade is permanent: expect a far more capable building than pre-2025, even on a quieter day.
- Civil enclave rules: strict security and no airside photography — it's an active IAF base.
- Pair with rail: Prayagraj's excellent rail links make train-plus-cab a strong alternative for many origins.
- Next Kumbh surges: Ardh Kumbh / Magh Mela seasons also lift demand and fares — book early around those windows.
- As of 2026, verify on the AAI Prayagraj page and airline sites for the current schedule.
Frequently asked questions
What is the IATA code for Prayagraj airport?
Prayagraj Airport — at Bamrauli, formerly Allahabad Airport — uses the IATA code IXD (ICAO: VEAB). It is a civil enclave at an Indian Air Force base, about 13 km from the city.
How was Prayagraj airport upgraded for the Kumbh?
Ahead of Maha Kumbh 2025, check-in counters were expanded from about 8 to around 42, conveyor belts from 2 to 5, and gates from 4 to 11, with a new taxiway and improved passenger-flow systems. The expanded terminal remains in place after the festival.
How many passengers did Prayagraj airport handle during Maha Kumbh 2025?
The airport reported a record single-day count of over 22,000 passengers, managed 120 scheduled flights and over 20,000 passengers on 16 February 2025, and handled around 5.59 lakh passengers across the 46 days of the festival.
Which airlines fly from Prayagraj now?
As of 2026 the carriers include IndiGo, Alliance Air, SpiceJet and Akasa Air, with links to Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and various regional points. Note that much of the Kumbh-era capacity was seasonal — verify your route is still operating.
How far is Prayagraj airport from the city?
Prayagraj airport (IXD) at Bamrauli is about 13 km from the city centre and roughly 12 km from Prayagraj Junction railway station — typically a 20-30 minute drive.
Is Prayagraj airport a military airport?
Prayagraj is a civil enclave at an Indian Air Force base — a civilian terminal operated alongside an active IAF airfield. Security is strict and photography of the apron and military areas is restricted.