Shirdi Airport (SAG) Guide 2026: Flights, Terminal and Getting to the Sai Baba Temple
By Aarav Sharma (Aarav Sharma covers Indian airline operations, airport infrastructure and route economics. He writes about Tier-1 and Tier-2 airport developments, IndiGo and Air India fleet strategy, and the unsung Indian aviation hubs travellers should know about.) · Published · Last updated · 11 min read
Shirdi Airport (SAG) is one of India's busiest pilgrimage airports, sitting about 15 km from the Sai Baba Samadhi Mandir. Here's the flight map, the small single terminal, the taxi and bus options into town, and what's changing with the new terminal.
Quick answer
Shirdi Airport (IATA: SAG), officially Shirdi Sai Baba International Airport, is the closest airport to the Sai Baba Samadhi Mandir — about 15 km away, a 20–30 minute drive. As of June 2026 it is served mainly by IndiGo, Air India and SpiceJet on domestic routes to Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata, with schedules that shift seasonally around pilgrimage peaks. There are no regular scheduled international flights. The airport handled roughly 0.9 million passengers in FY 2023–24 and a new, larger terminal has been sanctioned to lift capacity toward 2 million a year. Always check live timings and fares in the FlightGPT chat before booking. Official site: Airports Authority of India.
Where Shirdi Airport is and why it exists
Shirdi Airport sits in Kakadi village in Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra, purpose-built as a greenfield airport to serve the enormous flow of devotees visiting the Sai Baba shrine. Before it opened in 2017, pilgrims flew into Aurangabad, Nashik, Pune or Mumbai and faced a 3–6 hour road journey. SAG cut that to a short hop. The airport is unusual in India for being almost entirely pilgrimage-driven: passenger numbers swell on Thursdays (considered auspicious for Sai Baba), around Guru Purnima, Ram Navami and the Vijayadashami festival, and dip in the monsoon. If your dates are flexible, mid-week non-festival days are usually cheaper — compare fares in the FlightGPT chat.
Flights and airlines from SAG in 2026
As of June 2026 the regular operators are IndiGo, Air India and SpiceJet, with the route map weighted heavily toward the metros that send the most pilgrims:
- Mumbai (BOM) — the busiest and most frequent link, useful as a connection hub for the rest of India and abroad
- Delhi (DEL) — direct service, the main northern feeder
- Hyderabad (HYD) — strong demand from Telangana and Andhra devotees
- Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata — operated seasonally depending on the carrier and demand
Frequencies rise sharply around festivals and can thin out in the monsoon, so don't assume a daily flight on every route year-round. If your home city has no direct SAG flight, the cleanest connection is usually via Mumbai. See typical timings on our Mumbai to Shirdi route page and price both legs in the FlightGPT chat.
Inside the terminal
SAG is a compact single-terminal airport — quick to move through, with the basics rather than a sprawling retail experience. You'll find check-in counters, security, a small departure lounge, a couple of food and beverage outlets, and prayer/rest space appropriate to a pilgrimage airport. Because flights cluster around festival days, the terminal can feel busy at peaks and very quiet off-peak. The new integrated terminal sanctioned by the Maharashtra government (a project of around ₹527 crore) is designed for roughly 56,000 sqm and a much higher peak-hour capacity, which will modernise the passenger experience as it comes online. Until then, arrive about 2 hours before a domestic departure on festival days to absorb crowds.
Getting from SAG to Shirdi town and the temple
The Sai Baba Samadhi Mandir is about 15 km from the airport, a 20–30 minute drive on Maharashtra State Highway 10. Options:
- Prepaid / app taxis — the simplest door-to-door option to your hotel or the temple. Confirm whether it's a fixed prepaid fare or metered before you set off.
- Hotel pickups — many Shirdi hotels and the Sai Sansthan trust accommodation offer airport transfers; arrange in advance, especially for late arrivals.
- Local buses / shared cabs — cheaper but less frequent and timed to flights rather than running continuously.
Because most visits are short (often a day or overnight), many devotees pre-book a return taxi for the whole trip. If you're combining Shirdi with Shani Shingnapur or Nashik, factor those drives in — Shani Shingnapur is roughly 70 km away.
Best time to fly to Shirdi
Shirdi is a year-round destination, but flying patterns matter. Festival peaks — Guru Purnima (July), Ram Navami (spring) and Vijayadashami/Dussehra (autumn, marking Sai Baba's punyatithi) — bring the heaviest crowds and the highest fares, and the temple queues are long. The cooler October–February window is the most comfortable for travel. Thursdays draw extra devotees regardless of season. For the cheapest flights, aim for non-festival weekdays and book a few weeks out; track the swings in the FlightGPT chat and read our broader best time to book flights from India guide.
Practical tips for pilgrims flying into SAG
A few things that smooth a Shirdi trip: keep your darshan plan realistic — temple queues can run several hours at peak, so book an early flight and head straight in. The Sai Sansthan offers online darshan and accommodation booking, which is worth doing in advance for festival dates. Carry minimal luggage; cloakrooms near the temple have rules on what you can bring inside. If you have a connecting flight out of Mumbai the same day, allow generous buffer — Mumbai's own terminal transfers and traffic can eat hours (see our Mumbai T1-to-T2 transfer guide). For onward planning across India's pilgrimage airports, compare options in the FlightGPT chat.
Frequently asked questions
Which airport is nearest to the Shirdi Sai Baba temple?
Shirdi Airport (SAG) is the nearest, about 15 km from the Sai Baba Samadhi Mandir — a 20–30 minute drive. It was purpose-built to serve pilgrims and is far closer than the older options of Aurangabad, Nashik or Pune.
Which airlines fly to Shirdi in 2026?
As of June 2026, IndiGo, Air India and SpiceJet operate domestic flights to Shirdi, mainly from Mumbai, Delhi and Hyderabad, with seasonal service to Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata. Frequencies rise around festivals. Check live schedules before booking.
Are there international flights from Shirdi Airport?
No regular scheduled international flights operate from Shirdi as of June 2026, despite the 'international' designation. The airport is overwhelmingly a domestic pilgrimage hub. International pilgrims typically connect via Mumbai.
How do I get from Shirdi Airport to the temple?
Take a prepaid or app taxi (20–30 minutes, about 15 km), a pre-arranged hotel transfer, or a local bus/shared cab. Many devotees book a return taxi for the whole trip since most visits are short.
When is the cheapest time to fly to Shirdi?
Non-festival weekdays in the October–February window are usually cheapest and most comfortable. Fares spike around Guru Purnima, Ram Navami and Vijayadashami, and Thursdays draw extra devotees. Track fares in the FlightGPT chat.