For book lovers, waiting at an airport can now become an opportunity to read. A unique initiative called Flybrary is allowing passengers to pick up books for free at 68 airports across India, read them while waiting for a flight or during their journey, and return them at a Flybrary at their destination airport.
The initiative is aimed at making airports more passenger-friendly while encouraging people to read and share books during their travels.
What Is Flybrary?
Flybrary is a free, self-service library inside an airport. Passengers can browse the books available on Flybrary shelves and choose one they would like to read.
The book can be read while waiting for a flight or carried onboard and read during the journey. Once passengers reach their destination, they are encouraged to return the book to a Flybrary at that airport.
At some airports, passengers may also take books home and return them during a future airport visit. Travellers can also donate their own books where the facility allows it.
How Does Flybrary Work?
Using a Flybrary is simple:
- Look for the Flybrary shelf at the airport.
- Browse the available books.
- Pick a book that you would like to read.
- Read it while waiting at the airport or carry it on your flight.
- After reaching your destination, return the book to a Flybrary there.
The idea is to keep the books moving from one traveller to another, allowing more passengers to enjoy them.
Where Did Flybrary Start?
The Flybrary initiative was conceptualised by Sujit Mahapatra, founder of the Bakul Foundation, in partnership with the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
It was first launched at Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar in February 2025. The initiative has since expanded and is now available at 68 airports across the country.
Which Airports Have Flybrary?
According to the Airports Authority of India information cited by NDTV, Flybraries are available at 68 airports across India.
Some of the airports specifically mentioned include:
- Bhubaneswar
- Ranchi
- Bhuj
- Darbhanga
- Khajuraho
- Kullu-Manali
- Mangaluru
- Diu
- Amritsar
These are among the airports where the Flybrary initiative is available.
A Different Way to Spend Airport Waiting Time
Airports are usually associated with check-ins, security checks, boarding and waiting. Flybrary introduces another option for passengers—reading.
Instead of spending all the waiting time on a phone, travellers can choose a book and start reading before their flight or continue reading during the journey.
The initiative also encourages passengers to return books so that another traveller can discover and read the same book.
Flybrary Encourages Sharing Books
Flybrary is not designed as a conventional library where books simply remain on shelves. Its concept is based on making books accessible to travellers and encouraging them to share them.
Passengers can also contribute to the reading cycle by donating their own books at locations where book donations are accepted.
From Bhubaneswar to 68 Airports
What began as a pilot initiative at Bhubaneswar’s Biju Patnaik International Airport in February 2025 has now grown into a facility available at 68 Indian airports.
The expansion makes Flybrary an interesting addition to the airport experience, particularly for passengers who enjoy reading and want something different to do while travelling.
The Bottom Line
Flybrary gives passengers a simple way to access books for free while travelling. Passengers can pick a book from a Flybrary shelf, read it at the airport or during their flight, and return it at a Flybrary at their destination.
With the initiative now available at 68 Indian airports, travellers may want to look out for a Flybrary shelf the next time they fly.
Would you pick up a book from Flybrary before your next flight?
