Diu Airport (DIU): Flights, Terminal and Getting to Town
Diu Airport (IATA code DIU), in Fudam, is the only commercial civilian airport in the union territory, with direct flights to cities such as Ahmedabad, Surat and Goa. A compact single-terminal airport, it sits about 6 to 13 km from Diu town, close to Nagoa Beach, with taxis and auto-rickshaws outside. This guide, from Experience My India, covers flights, the terminal and transfers.
Diu Airport is the aerial gateway to the island, the quickest way to reach this former Portuguese enclave and its beaches without the long road or rail journey across Saurashtra. Small, scenic and convenient, it connects Diu to several cities of western India. This guide, from the team behind Somnath Dwarka Tour Package, a unit of Experience My India, covers everything you need to know about Diu Airport, its flights and airlines, the terminal and facilities, the distance to town and the beaches, your transfer options and practical tips, so you can plan your arrival on the island smoothly and move on to sights like the Diu Fort and the beaches with ease.
About Diu Airport
Diu Airport, with the IATA code DIU and the ICAO code VA1P, is a public domestic airport located in Fudam, serving the union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, as well as the adjacent regions of Gujarat such as Veraval and Jafrabad. It has a long history, having been established in 1954 under Portuguese rule as a naval airbase and it is today managed by the Airports Authority of India. It stands as the only operational commercial civilian airport in the union territory, which makes it the single air gateway for the whole of Diu and a valuable one for the nearby Saurashtra coast too. Though small and compact by the standards of India's big-city airports, it is well run and perfectly suited to the modest traffic of a holiday island and for many visitors flying in is the fastest and most comfortable way to reach Diu, sparing them the long overland journey from the major cities of Gujarat.
Diu Airport at a glance
Codes | IATA: DIU, ICAO: VA1P |
Location | Fudam, Diu, union territory of Daman and Diu |
Established | 1954, originally a Portuguese naval airbase |
Managed by | The Airports Authority of India (AAI) |
Status | The territory's only commercial civilian airport |
Runway | Asphalt, 1,826 m by 45 m, designated 05/23 |
Distance to town | About 6 to 13 km, close to Nagoa Beach |
Airlines and direct flights
Diu Airport connects travellers to major cities in western and north-western India through direct commercial flights. The airlines and destinations at the time of writing are:
Airline | Direct destinations |
IndiGo | Ahmedabad, Surat |
Star Air | Ahmedabad, Goa (Mopa) |
Alliance Air | Historically Mumbai, Keshod, Surat, Navi Mumbai |
Ahmedabad is the most useful hub, well connected to Diu and in turn to the rest of India and abroad, so many visitors fly into Diu via Ahmedabad. Because airline routes and schedules to small airports like Diu change from season to season, with carriers adding and dropping routes, it is essential to check the current flights and timings when you book rather than relying on any fixed list. If there is no convenient direct flight on your dates, flying to a larger nearby airport and continuing by road is a common alternative, covered below.
The terminal and facilities
Diu Airport has a single, compact domestic terminal, modest in scale but equipped with the essentials for a comfortable journey. It is capable of handling around 100 arriving and 100 departing passengers at any given time, which suits the island's holiday traffic well and means the airport rarely feels crowded or stressful. The terminal offers basic check-in counters, passenger waiting zones, a baggage claim section and a paid snack shop or canteen for refreshments, along with wheelchair accessibility features for travellers who need them. The airport operates an asphalt runway measuring 1,826 metres by 45 metres, designated 05/23. This is a small airport, so you should not expect the lounges, extensive shopping and dining of a major hub, but everything you need for a smooth arrival or departure is present and the compact size means quick, hassle-free check-in and baggage collection, one of the quiet pleasures of flying into a small holiday destination.
Getting from the airport to town and the beaches
Diu Airport sits approximately 6 to 13 km outside the main town centre, depending on your exact destination and is situated very close to popular tourist spots, above all Nagoa Beach, which is only a short drive away. This central location on the small island means transfers are quick and easy. Local taxis, auto-rickshaws and car hires are readily available outside the terminal and are the simplest way to reach your hotel or the beaches. The main Diu Bus Stand is about 8 km away for those continuing by bus. For a comfortable, pre-arranged transfer and onward travel around the island and the region, our Somnath Dwarka taxi service can meet you and you can book a well-placed base from the Somnath Dwarka hotels for the region. Because the airport is so close to Nagoa and the beaches, many visitors are relaxing by the sea within half an hour of landing.
Onward travel to Somnath, Gir and the region
Diu Airport is useful not only for Diu itself but as an entry point to the wider Saurashtra coast, since it also serves nearby Gujarat regions such as Veraval and Jafrabad. From Diu, the great Somnath temple is a straightforward drive up the coast, as covered in our Diu to Somnath distance guide and from there the lions of Gir and the heritage of Junagadh Girnar are within easy reach. Some travellers even fly into Diu specifically to begin a Somnath and Saurashtra pilgrimage from the coast. For the full picture of reaching the region by air, rail and road, our how to reach Somnath guide is a useful companion and our places to visit near Somnath and Diu guide helps you plan the sights.
Flying into Diu: the scenic approach
One of the special pleasures of using Diu Airport is the flight in itself. The approach to Diu is highly regarded for its stunning, panoramic aerial views of the Arabian Sea right before touchdown, as the aircraft descends over the blue water towards the island. For many visitors this first sight of Diu from the air, the sea, the coastline and the little island spread out below, is a memorable start to the holiday and a gentle introduction to the coastal beauty that awaits. If you have a choice of seat, a window seat on the approach is well worth it. This scenic arrival is a small but genuine reason to favour flying into Diu over the long overland journey, setting the relaxed, seaside mood of the trip before you have even landed and it is often mentioned fondly by those who have made the flight.
Alternatives if there is no convenient flight
Because Diu Airport is small and its flight schedule limited, you may not always find a convenient direct flight on your dates, in which case there are good alternatives. By rail, the nearest major railhead is the Diu railway station, about 22 km away, while Delwada and Veraval are the useful mainland junctions for the region, from which you continue by road. By road, Diu is well connected to the Saurashtra coast and to the cities of Gujarat and many visitors reach it comfortably by car or bus, especially when combining it with Somnath and the region. A popular approach is to fly into a larger airport such as Ahmedabad or Rajkot and then drive down to Diu and the coast, which opens up far more flight options. Our Somnath Dwarka tour packages and Gujarat tour packages can arrange the whole journey, by whichever combination of air and road suits your dates best.
Tips for using Diu Airport
A few pointers help your journey through Diu Airport go smoothly:
Check current flights and schedules when you book, as routes to this small airport change by season.
Consider Ahmedabad as your connecting hub, as it is the best-linked destination from Diu.
Arrange a taxi or a pre-booked transfer at the terminal, as the airport is close to town and the beaches.
Take a window seat for the beautiful aerial views of the Arabian Sea on the approach to Diu.
Carry some cash for the auto-rickshaw or taxi and the terminal canteen, as this is a small airport.
If there is no direct flight, consider flying to Ahmedabad or Rajkot and driving down to Diu and the coast.
Allow a little buffer time, as a small airport means quick check-in but limited flights if anything is missed.
Plan your Diu trip
Experience My India can plan your whole Diu trip from the moment you land, with an airport transfer, a well-placed stay and a well-paced itinerary of the island's forts, beaches, churches and temples. You can combine Diu with the Somnath temple, the lions of Gir, the heritage of Junagadh and the holy town of Dwarka and let the Experience My India best time to visit Gujarat guide help you choose your season. Whether you fly into Diu or reach it by road from a larger airport, the team can arrange the flights, transfers and sightseeing so your Saurashtra journey runs smoothly from arrival to departure, with the coast, the lions and the sacred sites all woven into one trip.
Related guides
To plan the rest of your Diu and Saurashtra trip, these related guides help:
Related guide | What it covers |
The island's Baroque heritage church. | |
The Sunset Point beach near Diu town. | |
The island's moving naval war memorial. |
Plan your visit
Experience My India can arrange your Diu trip and wider Saurashtra journey. Browse more travel guides, message us on WhatsApp or call +91 73006 20809.
Harsh Rawat
Somnath–Dwarka circuit planning
Harsh Rawat runs Somnath Dwarka Tour Package on the ground in Gujarat, part of Experience My India. Since 2018 he has been planning and driving the Somnath–Dwarka circuit — the darshan timings, the road hours between temples and the stops worth adding — and the routes, fares and timings published across this site are the ones he maintains.
