Khajuraho Airport in Madhya Pradesh has emerged as India’s highest-rated airport in the Airports Authority of India’s (AAI) Customer Satisfaction Index, despite not handling a single scheduled flight since July 1. Flight operations are not expected to resume before October, airport officials have confirmed.
The airport, which was previously connected to Delhi and Varanasi, has seen all scheduled services suspended. Airport Director Santosh Singh said commercial operations are likely to restart only in October.
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The ranking has surprised many in the aviation sector, given that Khajuraho currently has no passenger traffic. However, the AAI’s Customer Satisfaction Index measures passenger experience rather than operational performance or connectivity.
The survey, conducted twice a year by independent agencies, evaluates airports across 33 parameters, including cleanliness, security checks, staff behaviour, seating comfort, Wi-Fi availability, baggage handling and washroom hygiene. Flight frequency and destination connectivity are not part of the assessment.
Experts say smaller airports often score higher because they avoid the congestion, long queues and operational challenges faced by major hubs. Airports such as Delhi, which handle millions of passengers annually, frequently contend with baggage delays, parking shortages and crowded terminals that can affect customer satisfaction.
Khajuraho Airport, originally developed to serve tourists visiting the town’s UNESCO World Heritage temples, now stands largely idle despite its modern terminal infrastructure.
The ranking has also triggered reactions on social media. Congress Rajya Sabha MP Abhishek Singhvi took a swipe at the results, remarking that “no service, no complaints” appeared to be the formula for perfect governance.
The development has reignited debate over whether India’s airport rankings should incorporate factors such as connectivity, passenger traffic and operational efficiency alongside customer experience.
