From 16 to over 100 flights per day: Prayagraj Airport creates new record during Maha Kumbh

With Maha Kumbh still underway, Prayagraj Airport is expected to continue breaking records.

Prayagraj Airport has witnessed an extraordinary transformation, now handling over 100 flights per day—a sevenfold increase from just 16 flights daily before Maha Kumbh-2025. This surge in air traffic has set new records, with the airport managing 20,297 passengers on February 16, the highest single-day footfall in its history.

On February 16, Prayagraj Airport recorded a milestone by handling 120 scheduled flights in a single day, facilitating the travel of 20,297 passengers—its highest-ever daily footfall. This broke the previous record set just a day earlier on February 15, when the airport managed the same number of flights but with 19,822 passengers, according to airport officials.

The spike in air traffic reflects the massive influx of pilgrims arriving for the grand religious gathering. Official data reveals that on February 16, 10,152 passengers arrived on 60 flights, while 10,145 departed on another 60. Similarly, on February 15, 10,300 passengers landed, while 9,522 took off.

Rapid growth in passenger traffic

Prayagraj Airport's evolution has been remarkable. Since its inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 16, 2018, and the launch of flight operations on January 1, 2019—just ahead of Kumbh-2019—it has rapidly expanded its capacity. The numbers tell the story:

• Between February 1 and 16, 2025, the airport handled 214,593 passengers across 1,288 scheduled flights, averaging 13,412 passengers daily and 81 flights per day.
• On February 13, the airport had already hit a high of 16,310 passengers on 96 flights, before surpassing this record on February 15 and 16.
• On January 13, the opening day of Maha Kumbh-2025, the airport managed 33 flights carrying 4,252 passengers. By January 28, traffic had nearly doubled to 8,378 passengers on 56 flights.
• Between January 13 and February 16, the airport accommodated 312,536 passengers on 1,974 flights over 35 days, averaging 8,929 passengers on 57 flights daily.

The surge in air traffic has been supported by a major expansion of Prayagraj Airport. In anticipation of Mahakumbh-2025, authorities ramped up infrastructure to enhance passenger capacity and streamline operations. Key upgrades include:

• Expansion of the terminal area from 6,700 square meters to 25,500 square meters, increasing peak-hour handling capacity from 540 to 1,080 passengers.
• A new terminal building to accommodate an additional 1,620 passengers.
• Increased connectivity, with flights now linking Prayagraj to 17 cities—up from just eight in December 2024.
• More than 60 new flights introduced in January 2025, significantly improving accessibility for travelers.
• Parking capacity tripled from 200 to 600 vehicles, and check-in counters expanded from 8 to 42.

Official statement

"The major revamp undertaken at Prayagraj Airport ahead of Maha Kumbh-2025 has significantly improved our ability to handle the surge in flights and passengers. Thanks to the increased capacity and upgraded facilities, we are managing the high traffic smoothly," said Mukesh Chandra Upadhyay, Director, Prayagraj Airport.

With Maha Kumbh-2025 still underway, Prayagraj Airport is expected to continue breaking records, reinforcing its status as a crucial gateway for one of the world's largest religious gatherings.