Archive · 14 Aug 2026
Flybrary At 68 Indian Airports Lets Travellers Pick A Book
Many airports in India now have special bookshelves called Flybraries, which are like little free libraries.
If you see a book you like, you can take it for free.
You can read it while you wait for your plane or during the flight.
When you land at your new airport, you can leave the book on a Flybrary shelf there.
That way, many travellers can enjoy the same book.
The first Flybrary opened in February 2025 at an airport in Bhubaneswar.
Now there are Flybraries at 68 airports in India.
At some airports you can even take books home and bring them back during your next visit, and you can also donate old books of your own.
Flybrary is a free, self-service library at 68 Indian airports where passengers can pick up a book and return it at their destination airport.
The initiative was conceptualised by Sujit Mahapatra, founder of the Bakul Foundation, in partnership with the Airports Authority of India.
Flybrary debuted in February 2025 at Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu highlighted the initiative after content creator @travelermohit praised the Flybrary at Ranchi Airport.
At some airports passengers can take books home and return them on their next visit, and travellers can also donate their own books.
- Who
- The Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Airports Authority of India, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, and Sujit Mahapatra, founder of the Bakul Foundation.
- What
- Flybrary, a free self-service airport library programme that lets passengers borrow a book, read it while travelling, and return it at their destination airport.
- When
- The initiative debuted in February 2025 and is now available at 68 airports.
- Where
- 68 airports across India, including Bhubaneswar, Ranchi, Bhuj, Darbhanga, Khajuraho, Kullu-Manali, Mangaluru, Diu and Amritsar.
- Why
- To make airports more passenger-centric and make books accessible during travel by encouraging passengers to share them.
- Initiative name
- Flybrary
- Airports covered
- 68 across India
- Launch airport
- Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar
- Launch date
- February 2025
- Conceptualised by
- Sujit Mahapatra (founder, Bakul Foundation) with the Airports Authority of India
- Cost
- Free for passengers
- How it works
- Pick a book, read it, return it at a destination Flybrary, or donate books
- Related initiatives
- UDAN Yatri Cafes, Awasar SHG outlets, Kids Zones, free Wi-Fi
