Ahmedabad, Jaipur and Lucknow are busy airports, but none of them has a regular direct flight to Port Blair. Almost every traveller from these cities connects through a larger hub, usually Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai or Bangalore. The right hub can save you four or five hours, or protect your first day on the islands from a missed connection.
This guide compares the options city by city, explains how to pick a connection, and lists what to sort out before you fly. If you are still working out how to reach Andaman from a tier-one city that lacks direct service, start here.
The basics: where you land and what to carry
All flights arrive at Veer Savarkar International Airport in Port Blair. Direct services to Port Blair operate from Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Bangalore, with Mumbai and a few other cities served at times depending on the season and airline schedule. Check current schedules, as routes change.
Indian citizens do not need a permit for the main tourist islands. Carry a valid photo ID (Aadhaar, passport, voter ID or driving licence) and keep digital and paper copies of your tickets. Foreign nationals have separate registration requirements, which are best confirmed with your planner.
From Ahmedabad: Mumbai, Delhi or Bangalore
Ahmedabad has frequent flights to Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai, so you have choices.
- Via Delhi: Good if you find a morning Ahmedabad departure that links to a Delhi-Port Blair flight the same day. Delhi flights to Port Blair take roughly 4 to 4.5 hours.
- Via Chennai or Bangalore: Often the calmest option. Chennai to Port Blair is about 2 hours of flying, and Bangalore is somewhat longer. Both give a comfortable layover buffer.
- Via Kolkata: Worth checking, as the Kolkata-Port Blair leg is short, about 2 hours.
Mumbai is useful mainly when an airline offers a through ticket. Always compare total journey time, not just fares.
From Jaipur: Delhi is the obvious bridge
Jaipur to Delhi is short by air, but many travellers prefer the Delhi-Jaipur road or rail links when timing is tight. Be careful here: a train or road delay on the way to Delhi can wreck a same-day connection.
- Fly Jaipur-Delhi, then Delhi-Port Blair: Suits you if both are on one ticket, so the airline protects the connection.
- Travel to Delhi the day before: Safer for families, older travellers and anyone with checked luggage.
- Via Mumbai, Bangalore or Chennai: Possible, but usually longer than going through Delhi.
If you pick separate tickets for the two legs, leave at least four to five hours between them, and more if you need to collect luggage and re-check.
From Lucknow: Delhi, Kolkata or Chennai
Lucknow has strong links to Delhi and Kolkata, and a Kolkata connection often makes geographic sense because Port Blair is only about two hours away from there.
- Via Kolkata: A sensible option when timings line up, especially for travellers who prefer a shorter second flight.
- Via Delhi: More frequency and more choice of onward departures, though the Delhi-Port Blair leg is longer.
- Via Chennai or Bangalore: Worth comparing when fares through the northern hubs are high.
Choosing your hub: a quick comparison
| Hub | Flight to Port Blair (approx.) | Best for |
| Delhi | 4 to 4.5 hours | Most choice, easiest from Jaipur |
| Kolkata | About 2 hours | Short second leg, good from Lucknow |
| Chennai | About 2 hours | Calm connections from Ahmedabad |
| Bangalore | About 2.5 to 3 hours | Alternative when other fares are high |
Durations are approximate and vary by airline and schedule.
Same-day or overnight connection?
A same-day connection saves a night’s hotel cost, but only when you hold a single booking. If the first flight is late and you hold two separate tickets, the second airline will not rebook you.
An overnight stop adds expense but lowers stress. It makes sense if you have small children, elderly parents, or a tight first-day plan such as a ferry to Havelock (Swaraj Dweep). Many Port Blair morning flights are timed so you can still catch an afternoon government or private ferry, but this is not guaranteed, so avoid fixing non-refundable plans for that same afternoon until your flight is confirmed.
Timing, seasons and booking window
October to May is the main travel period, with calmer seas and better ferry reliability. December, Christmas, New Year and the May-June school holidays are the busiest times, and flights fill early. Book flights as far ahead as you can for those windows, ideally two to three months out. The monsoon months bring cheaper fares but a real risk of delayed flights and cancelled ferries.
Because airfare is a large share of the budget, travellers using LTC should confirm which airlines and fare classes are eligible before booking. Keep boarding passes and invoices for claims.
Practical mistakes to avoid
- Booking tight separate tickets. Always allow a generous buffer.
- Ignoring baggage rules. Check allowances on both flights; Andaman routes can be strict on weight.
- Arriving late and planning a ferry. Port Blair flight delays can push you past ferry check-in times.
- Forgetting ID. Every adult needs valid photo ID at check-in and at jetties.
- Skipping connectivity planning. Mobile networks are patchy beyond Port Blair, so download tickets and hotel confirmations beforehand.
A simple way to decide
If you are in Jaipur, go via Delhi. If you are in Lucknow, compare Kolkata and Delhi. If you are in Ahmedabad, compare Chennai, Bangalore and Delhi. Pick the combination with a single ticket and the most comfortable layover, even if it costs slightly more. Once you understand how to reach Andaman from your home airport, the rest of the trip planning becomes far easier.
Conclusion
None of these three cities has a simple direct link, but all of them connect smoothly through a metro hub. Delhi suits Jaipur, Kolkata and Delhi both work for Lucknow, and Ahmedabad has the widest set of choices. Prioritise a single booking, a sensible buffer, and an early start to flight searches for peak dates.
If you want help matching flights to an itinerary covering Port Blair, Havelock and Neil, our planners can build a customised package around your departure city and dates. Share your plans and they can suggest realistic options, with timings and costs confirmed at booking.
