Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport is one of the busiest airports in India. In 2024, the airport witnessed robust growth and surpassed a milestone by welcoming over 40 million passengers. With this, its status has been elevated to a ‘Large Airport’ globally.
Bengaluru Airport Sees Record Passenger Traffic Growth In 2024
Bengaluru Airport achieved record passenger and cargo traffic in 2024. For the first time, the airport witnessed over 40.73 million passengers in a single calendar year. The highest number of passengers in a single day was recorded on October 20, 2024, with 126,532 passengers passing through the airport. Furthermore, the Airport recorded a peak of 782 Air Traffic Movements (ATMs) on October 17, 2024. The annual average at the airport is 723 ATMs per day.
This is a massive increase from the 37.2 million passenger traffic recorded in 2023. The airport saw a significant annual growth of 21.1% in international passenger traffic as well. Now, due to the new traffic numbers, Bengaluru Airport’s status has been elevated to a ‘Large Airport’ globally, in line with ACI’s (>40 mppa) categorisation.
This growth was complemented by a significant surge in daily air traffic movements. BLR reported its highest-ever annual cargo tonnage of 496,227 MT for the calendar year. As per data, the highest single-day cargo in 2024 was at 1,884 MT. This shows Bengaluru Airport’s growing importance as a major hub for travel and trade.
Connectivity And New Routes Contribute To The Rise
So, what contributed to this massive growth in passenger and cargo traffic at Bengaluru Airport in 2024? New routes and extensive flight connectivity added to these numbers. As of December 31, 2024, Kempegowda International Airport catered to 75 domestic and 30 international destinations. In 2024, the airport expanded connectivity with 11 new domestic destinations and 4 international routes.
The Airport expanded its global network with new airline partners like Virgin Atlantic, Salam Air, Manta Air and Fly91. They also increased the frequency of international flights by 21%, with an average of 75 ATMs per day in 2024. By the end of 2024, IndiGo Airline added 46 international weekly departures from Bengaluru, making up one-third of the total 240 additional international weekly departures from India. Furthermore, major airlines operating to and from the airport have increased international seat capacity by over 3,700 daily seats from the Summer 2024 season and the Winter 2024 season.
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How has your experience been at the Bengaluru Airport? Let us know in the comments.
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