Smoking at Dholera International Airport – DHR

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By , Author, Air Travel Writer · Updated

Not yet. Dholera International Airport (DHR) is still under construction and not open to passengers as of 2026, so it has no smoking areas. Here is the current status and what to expect once it opens.

Dholera International Airport (IATA: DHR; ICAO: VADH) is a greenfield airport being built near Dholera in the Dholera Special Investment Region, Gujarat, about 80 km southwest of Ahmedabad. It is developed by Dholera International Airport Company Ltd (DIACL), a joint venture of the Airports Authority of India, the Government of Gujarat, and NICDIT, with AAI as operator.

Construction Status

  • Phase 1 civil works were completed in late 2025.
  • Calibration and trial flights were carried out in early 2026 — the first aircraft landed for testing in mid-2026.
  • The 3.2 km runway is structurally complete and capable of handling wide-body jets.
  • The passenger terminal and ATC tower are built but not yet open to the public.
  • Cargo operations are targeted for 2026 and passenger flights around the end of 2026 — both dates are unconfirmed targets, not firm openings.

Phase 1 is designed for about 1.5 million passengers a year.

Smoking at Dholera Airport — What to Expect

There are no smoking facilities to report yet because the terminal is not operating. Once DHR opens, it will follow standard Indian airport practice:

  • Landside (pre-security): outdoor kerbside smoking at the departures and arrivals frontage, marked with the smoking pictogram and ash bins, is the usual arrangement at Indian airports.
  • Airside (post-security): under COTPA, Indian airports handling international traffic must provide enclosed smoking rooms, and most major domestic terminals provide them too. DHR is expected to follow suit, but exact locations cannot be confirmed until the terminal opens.

We will update this page with confirmed smoking-zone details once Dholera begins passenger operations. If you spot facilities on the ground, please use the Contribute button at the bottom of the page.

Where to Fly Instead For Now

Until DHR opens, the nearest operating airport is Ahmedabad (AMD), which has designated smoking facilities.

For India airport smoking rules, the PECA vape ban, lighter-machine instructions, and other rules, see our India smoking guide.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a smoking area at Dholera International Airport (DHR)?

Not yet. Dholera International Airport in Gujarat is still under construction and has not opened to passengers as of 2026. The runway and terminal building are structurally complete and trial flights have been conducted, but there are no commercial flights and no published smoking facilities. We will update this page once the terminal opens.

When will Dholera International Airport open?

Dholera International Airport is targeting cargo operations in 2026 and passenger flights around the end of 2026, though these dates are not officially confirmed by the Airports Authority of India and Indian airport projects often slip. Phase 1 has a 3.2 km runway and a single terminal sized for about 1.5 million passengers a year.

Does Dholera Airport have flights yet?

No. As of 2026 only trial and calibration flights have taken place. There are no scheduled commercial passenger or cargo services. The nearest operating airport is Ahmedabad (Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, AMD).

Can I vape at Dholera Airport or in India?

No. E-cigarettes and vaping devices are banned across India under the PECA Act 2019, including personal possession. Do not carry them at any Indian airport.