Fact 🧞‍♂️

India’s First Airport: Juhu Aerodrome, Mumbai (1928)

The first airport in India was Juhu Aerodrome, Mumbai, established in 1928. It served as the earliest hub of Indian civil aviation, including JRD Tata’s iconic 1932 flight that launched India’s airmail service.

Pratik Kamble

01 Dec 2025 — 1 min read

India’s First Airport: Juhu Aerodrome, Mumbai (1928)

🛩️ The First Airport in India, Juhu Aerodrome (1928)

When we talk about India’s aviation milestones, all roads, or rather, all runways, lead back to one historic spot: Juhu Aerodrome in Mumbai, the first airport ever built in India, way back in 1928.

🛫 A Runway That Started It All

Juhu Aerodrome began as a grass airstrip, built for the growing interest in civil aviation during the 1920s. It was here that India took its earliest steps into organised air travel.

Some key historical highlights:

1928, Airport officially established as India’s first civil aviation airfield.
1932, JRD Tata famously took off from here on India’s first airmail flight, flying to Karachi, a landmark moment in Indian aviation.
1930s–1950s, Juhu served as Bombay’s primary airfield before Santacruz Airport (now Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport) opened.
Later, it transitioned mainly into a training and helicopter operations hub.

🧭 Why It Matters

India’s aviation network, now 160+ airports, traces its origins right back to Juhu. This aerodrome wasn’t just a runway; it was the origin point for:

Early Indian airmail service
Pilot training
Expansion of India’s aviation regulations
Civil aviation culture that shaped modern air travel

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