Tirupati International Airport — Tirupati, India

Pilgrims heading to the hilltop shrine of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala, one of the most visited religious sites anywhere in the world, typically make their final approach to the region through TIR. Located in Andhra Pradesh, the airport earned international status specifically to accommodate the enormous volume of devotees, including chartered flights bringing worshippers from within India and abroad. Passenger volumes spike sharply around major festivals and auspicious dates on the Hindu calendar, when queues at the nearby temple can stretch for hours and demand for seats surges accordingly. Domestic carriers connect Tirupati to major Indian metros including Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Delhi, while the surrounding region also benefits from the steady flow of religious tourism the airport enables. Modest in size compared to India's giant metro hubs, TIR carries outsized spiritual significance for millions each year.