Air travelers in India now have more opportunities to pick up a book before boarding a flight, with the FLYBRARY initiative expanding to 68 airports across the country. The Airports Authority of India and the Ministry of Civil Aviation have continued rolling out the initiative as part of efforts to improve the passenger experience and encourage reading.
The initiative offers passengers free access to books that they can read while waiting at the airport or during their flight. Travelers can return the books at participating Flybrary locations, including at their destination where the facility is available, helping the same books reach more readers.
FLYBRARY was first introduced in India at Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar through a partnership between the Bakul Foundation and the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The idea was to make waiting time at airports more useful while promoting reading among passengers.
How Many Airports Have FLYBRARY?
FLYBRARY has been expanded to airports across India, with the AAI rolling out the initiative at an increasing number of locations.
- Biju Patnaik International Airport
- Pune Airport
- Srinagar International Airport
- Silchar Airport
- Hindon Airport
- Hubballi Airport
- Imphal International Airport
- Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport
- Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport
- Kishangarh Airport
- Mangaluru International Airport
- Jammu Airport
- Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport
- Birsa Munda Airport
- Bhuj Airport
- Darbhanga Airport
- Khajuraho Airport
- Kullu-Manali Airport
- Diu Airport
- Raja Bhoj Airport
- Donyi Polo Airport
- Rajkot International Airport
- Jamnagar Airport
- Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport
- Dehradun Airport
- Thiruvananthapuram International Airport
- Chennai International Airport
- Coimbatore International Airport
- Tiruchirappalli International Airport
- Madurai Airport
- Vijayawada International Airport
- Bhogapuram International Airport
- Rajahmundry Airport
- Tirupati Airport
- Patna Airport
- Gaya Airport
- Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport
- Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport
- Gorakhpur Airport
- Prayagraj Airport
- Kanpur Airport
- Jaipur International Airport
- Jodhpur Airport
- Maharana Pratap Airport
- Gwalior Airport
- Jabalpur Airport
- Devi Ahilyabai Holkar International Airport
- Veer Savarkar International Airport
- Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport
- Dibrugarh Airport
- Jorhat Airport
- Tezpur Airport
- Bagdogra International Airport
- Leh Airport
- Kangra Airport
- Shimla Airport
- Pantnagar Airport
- Belagavi Airport
- Mysuru Airport
- Kalaburagi Airport
- Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport
- Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Airport
- Nanded Airport
- Surat International Airport
- Vadodara Airport
- Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport
- Raipur Airport
- Deoghar Airport
How Does It Work?
The concept is simple:
- Pick a book from a FLYBRARY shelf at the airport.
- Read it at the airport or take it with you on your journey.
- Return the book to a participating FLYBRARY location, where applicable.
- Passengers can also donate books at participating Flybrary locations to help maintain and expand the collection.
At the original Bhubaneswar FLYBRARY, there are separate shelves in the departure and arrival areas. Books can also be returned by post to the Bakul Foundation.
What Kind of Books Are Available?
The collections can feature different types of books, including novels, children’s literature, magazines, self-help books, coffee-table books and books in Indian languages. The initiative can also rely on book donations to maintain and expand its collections. Passengers and members of the public can contribute books to help maintain and expand the collections at participating locations.
Flybrary Initiatives Around the World
The name “Flybrary” has also been used by airlines and airports for reading initiatives outside India. In 2017, easyJet launched a children’s Flybrary with thousands of books placed across its aircraft to encourage young travelers to read during flights. In 2026, Orlando International Airport introduced its own Flybrary reading area in Terminal C, offering young passengers a dedicated space to enjoy books while waiting for their flights.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Flybrary?
Flybrary is an airport-based reading initiative that gives passengers access to books while traveling. In India, the initiative is supported and rolled out through the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to encourage reading and make airport journeys more enjoyable.
How does the Flybrary work?
Passengers can select books from a Flybrary at participating airports and read them during their journey. At participating airports, books can also be returned to a Flybrary at the passenger’s destination, helping circulate books among travelers.
How many airports in India have Flybraries?
According to the Airports Authority of India, Flybraries are available at 68 airports across India.
Do passengers have to pay to use a Flybrary?
The Flybrary initiative is designed to provide passengers with free access to books. However, the borrowing and return arrangements may vary between participating airports.
Can I take a Flybrary book on my flight?
Yes. The initiative allows travelers to read books during their journey. At participating airports, passengers can take a book with them and return it at another participating Flybrary, where the facility supports this arrangement.
Can I return the book at a different airport?
At airports participating in the book-sharing model, passengers can return borrowed books to a Flybrary at their destination. This allows the books to continue circulating among travelers.
Is Flybrary available only for children?
No. While some Flybraries may include children’s books, India’s airport Flybrary initiative provides reading material for a wider range of passengers.
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