2 weeks ago
Flybrary brings free book libraries to travellers at Indian airports
Flybrary is a special library inside some airports in India.
When people are waiting for their flight, they can pick up a book and read it for free.
They can even take the book on the plane and read it during the journey.
Later, they can return it at another airport that has a Flybrary shelf.
The first Flybrary opened at Bhubaneswar Airport in 2025.
It started with about 600 books in English, Hindi, and Odia.
There is no membership card or fee needed to borrow a book.
People can donate books to help keep the shelves full.
Now airports in Prayagraj, Pune, and Jharsuguda have similar reading spaces.
Flybrary is a free book-lending initiative at Indian airports, first launched at Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar in early 2025.
The initiative is a collaboration between the Bakul Foundation and the Airports Authority of India (AAI), and operates on trust with donated books and volunteer organisers.
Prayagraj Airport joined in July 2026, starting with an initial collection that included books on yoga and religion.
Pune Airport's Flybrary, supported by the Pune Authors' Association, is located between Gates 6 and 9 and features books by local authors.
Rules vary by airport; at Veer Surendra Sai Airport in Jharsuguda, books are kept in the departure lounge because borrowed books were not always returned.
- Who
- Travellers at Indian airports; the initiative was created by the Bakul Foundation and the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
- What
- Flybrary, a free book-lending initiative with bookshelves at airports where passengers can pick up books to read and return later.
- Where
- Indian airports including Biju Patnaik International Airport (Bhubaneswar), Prayagraj Airport, Pune Airport, and Veer Surendra Sai Airport (Jharsuguda).
- When
- First launched in early 2025; Prayagraj Airport joined in July 2026.
- Why
- To encourage reading among passengers and make books freely accessible without cost or membership barriers.
Key facts
- Initiative
- Flybrary - free airport book-lending programme
- First airport
- Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar
- Launch year
- 2025 (early)
- Initial collection
- Around 600 books
- Languages
- English, Hindi and Odia
- Partners
- Bakul Foundation and Airports Authority of India (AAI)
- Participating airports
- Bhubaneswar, Prayagraj, Pune and Jharsuguda
- Civil Aviation Ministry
- Highlighted Flybrary as a passenger-focused initiative
Quotes
Airports Authority of India (AAI) representative
Official from the Airports Authority of India involved in implementing Flybrary
“The concept makes books freely available to passengers, who can read them at the airport or take them along and return them on a subsequent visit.”
firstpost.com
Sources
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