Rajkot's new Hirasar Airport (HSR) in 2026 — the greenfield hub that replaced the old city airport
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 · 11 min read
Rajkot swapped its cramped, hemmed-in city airport for a brand-new greenfield airport at Hirasar in 2023 — a wide-body-capable hub 25 km out of town. Here's what changed, and what to know before you fly HSR.
Quick answer
Rajkot now flies from Hirasar — Rajkot International Airport (IATA HSR, ICAO VAHS), a greenfield airport built by AAI that opened to flights on 10 September 2023. It completely replaced the old in-city Rajkot airport (RAJ), which was hemmed in by urban growth and couldn't expand — all airlines moved to HSR. The catch: Hirasar is about 25-30 km northeast of Rajkot on the Rajkot-Ahmedabad highway, much farther than the old airport, so budget more travel time. HSR has a 3,040 m runway capable of handling wide-bodies, and as of 2026 flies domestic routes to Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Goa, Pune, Hyderabad and more. Verify the live schedule on the airport/AAI site.
Why Rajkot needed a new airport
The old Rajkot Airport (RAJ) was a classic Indian tier-2 problem: a perfectly serviceable airport that the city grew around until it physically couldn't get any bigger. A short runway, no room to extend, and a small terminal capped how many flights — and what aircraft — Rajkot could handle. For one of Gujarat's biggest industrial and trading cities (engineering, casting, ceramics, agriculture in the Saurashtra heartland), that was a real constraint.
The fix was a greenfield airport — built from scratch on open land at Hirasar village, with a long runway and room to grow. It was inaugurated by the Prime Minister on 27 July 2023 and began commercial operations on 10 September 2023. On that date, the old RAJ closed to scheduled flights and everything shifted to HSR. If you have an older bookmark or an old ticket that says "Rajkot Airport," make sure you're heading to Hirasar, not the old city site.
The terminal and runway — built for the future
HSR's terminal has a built-up area of around 23,000 m² and is sized for roughly 1,800 peak-hour passengers. As of 2026 it offers a modern AAI standard: around 20 check-in counters, multiple baggage conveyors, four aerobridges, an ATC tower and contemporary passenger amenities. It's a generational upgrade over the cramped old terminal.
The headline piece of infrastructure is the runway: 3,040 m long and 45 m wide, engineered to handle wide-body aircraft up to the size of the Boeing 777/787 and even the A350/A380 category. In practice today's flights are narrow-body domestic services, but the airport is physically ready for larger aircraft and future international flights if demand and approvals line up. For context on which aircraft you'll actually find on Indian routes, see our aircraft types decoded guide.
Routes and airlines — the 2026 network
As of 2026 HSR is a domestic airport with a solid metro-and-leisure map, anchored by IndiGo with other carriers adding city pairs. Typical non-stop links include:
- Mumbai — the highest-demand business route from Saurashtra.
- Delhi — the main northbound trunk.
- Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune — south and west business links.
- Goa and other leisure/seasonal points.
- Ahmedabad and intra-Gujarat hops depending on schedule.
No scheduled international flights operate from HSR as of 2026, though the airport is built to support them eventually. Saurashtra has a sizeable Gulf and NRI community, so Gulf routes are a plausible future addition — but don't assume one until it's published. Compare current fares and timings on FlightGPT, and for the wider state loop see our Gujarat 7-day itinerary.
The big catch — distance and transport
The trade-off for a bigger, better airport is that it's a lot farther out. Hirasar is roughly 25-30 km northeast of Rajkot city, on the National Highway towards Ahmedabad — versus the old airport that was practically in town. Plan for a 40-60 minute drive, more in traffic or from the far side of the city.
- Taxi / app cabs — the practical default. Fares are higher than the old short hop, so factor that into your trip cost.
- Highway location — being on the Rajkot-Ahmedabad highway, it's actually convenient for travellers coming from towns along that corridor, and there have been moves to add bus/coach connectivity.
- Pre-book for early flights — given the distance, don't rely on hailing a cab at 4am; arrange transport the night before.
Net effect: leave earlier than you used to. A flight that needed a 45-minute pre-departure run from home now needs meaningfully more.
Practical tips for flying HSR in 2026
- Go to Hirasar, not the old airport: RAJ is closed to scheduled flights; all airlines are at HSR. Tell your cab driver "Hirasar airport" explicitly.
- Add travel time: the 25-30 km distance means leaving home 30-45 minutes earlier than the old airport required.
- Modern but tier-2: the terminal is new and comfortable, but lounge and dining options are limited versus a metro — eat before you arrive for early flights.
- Watch for international: the runway can take wide-bodies; if Gulf routes are announced, they'll likely start here. Don't book on rumour — wait for the published schedule.
- As of 2026, verify on the AAI Rajkot/Hirasar page before travel; the route map is still developing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the IATA code for Rajkot's new airport?
Rajkot's new greenfield airport at Hirasar uses the IATA code HSR (ICAO: VAHS). The old in-city Rajkot airport used RAJ and is closed to scheduled flights.
When did Rajkot Hirasar airport open?
Hirasar (Rajkot International Airport) was inaugurated on 27 July 2023 and began commercial flight operations on 10 September 2023, when all scheduled flights moved from the old RAJ airport.
How far is Hirasar airport from Rajkot city?
Hirasar is about 25-30 km northeast of Rajkot, on the Rajkot-Ahmedabad highway — typically a 40-60 minute drive, much farther than the old city airport. Allow extra travel time and pre-book transport for early flights.
Does Rajkot Hirasar airport have international flights?
As of 2026 HSR operates domestic flights only, though its 3,040 m runway is built to handle wide-body aircraft and future international services. No international routes are scheduled yet; verify on the airport site.
Which airlines and routes operate from Hirasar (HSR)?
As of 2026 HSR is served mainly by IndiGo with other carriers on select pairs, flying to cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune and Goa. Confirm the live schedule before booking.
Is the old Rajkot airport (RAJ) still operating?
No. The old Rajkot Airport (RAJ) closed to scheduled commercial flights when Hirasar (HSR) opened on 10 September 2023. All airlines now operate from Hirasar.