For the first time, Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru has emerged as India’s third-busiest airport for international passenger traffic, overtaking Chennai and Kochi in October 2024.
According to Airports Authority of India (AAI) records, Bengaluru handled 4.8 lakh international passengers in October 2024, surpassing Chennai (4.5 lakh) and Kochi (4.1 lakh) to secure the third position, behind Delhi (17.5 lakh) and Mumbai (12.5 lakh).
KIA’s passenger traffic grew significantly, with 4.8 lakh international passengers in October 2024 compared to 3.9 lakh in October 2023, marking a 24.3 percent growth. In September 2024, Bengaluru ranked fifth with 4.39 lakh international passengers, trailing Delhi (16.86 lakh), Mumbai (11.79 lakh), Chennai (4.44 lakh), and Kochi (4.41 lakh).
In domestic passenger traffic, Bengaluru remains third after Delhi and Mumbai. In October 2024, Bengaluru handled 30.8 lakh domestic passengers, following Delhi (46.8 lakh) and Mumbai (31.6 lakh). Overall, including both international and domestic traffic, Bengaluru handled 35.7 lakh passengers in October 2024, ranking third after Delhi (64.4 lakh) and Mumbai (44.2 lakh).
Sources from Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL), which operates KIA, told Moneycontrol that the airport is now connected to 29 international destinations through 34 airlines.
Also, read: Bengaluru airport is now connected to 100 non-stop passenger destinations
Recent additions to KIA’s international connectivity include IndiGo’s direct flights to Mauritius and upcoming daily flights to Langkawi, Malaysia, from December 16. Akasa Air also plans to launch direct flights from Bengaluru to Abu Dhabi.
“There is significant potential in international traffic. Capacity at Bengaluru airport has increased since international operations began at Terminal 2 in September 2023. The introduction of new routes by airlines and growing demand for leisure and business travel have boosted international passenger numbers. Dubai, Singapore, and Doha remain the top international routes,” a source said.
KIA began operations on May 24, 2008, in Devanahalli, about 40 km from Bengaluru’s central business district. The airport surpassed the 300-million-passenger mark since its inception on December 1, 2023.
Also, read: International operations commence from Bengaluru airport's T2
The Karnataka government is also now planning a second airport for Bengaluru and the location is expected to be finalised soon.
Canadian billionaire Prem Watsa's Fairfax Group holds a 64 percent stake in BIAL, while Siemens Project Ventures owns 10 percent. The remaining 26 percent is equally shared by the Karnataka State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited and the Airports Authority of India.
Also, read: Bengaluru’s second airport: Karnataka to send proposal to AAI this week, says MB Patil
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