BENGALURU- India’s aviation sector has experienced a significant boom, with its top six airports showing remarkable growth in passenger traffic in 2024.
The demand for air travel continues to surge, as the country’s key aviation hubs—Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru have recorded a substantial rise in passenger numbers compared to the previous year. Other airports such as Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Chennai have also shown fantastic growth.
Top Airports in India
According to the latest data released by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), all six airports witnessed impressive growth, with Delhi leading the way, followed closely by Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Kolkata. The total passenger traffic at these airports increased significantly in 2024 compared to 2023.
While Mumbai saw a slight dip in total passenger numbers, all other airports recorded notable increases, especially Bengaluru and Hyderabad, which registered impressive double-digit growth.
Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL)
Delhi Airport remains India’s busiest airport, handling 77.8 million passengers in 2024. The Airport had handled 72.2 million in 2023. With 7.8% YoY growth, Delhi airport is one of the busiest airports in the world.
As the country’s primary and most important international gateway, Delhi continues to see strong demand from both domestic and international travelers. The expansion of Terminal 1 and enhancements at Terminal 3 have helped the airport accommodate rising traffic efficiently. Terminal 2 at Delhi airport will undergo renovation to enhance the capacity further.
The fourth runway and additional taxiways will also improve capacity, making IGI a global aviation hub in the coming years.
Delhi Airport serves a whooping 150 destinations in 53 different countries. This includes 77 domestic destinations and 73 International destinations connected.
Delhi Airport sees 70 different airlines operating flights which is the highest in the country.
Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM):
Mumbai Airport recorded 50.3 million passengers in 2024, a 2.3% decline from 51.5 million in 2023. Despite limited expansion options, Mumbai remains a critical hub for the country.
The upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport, set to commence operations in the near future, is expected to ease congestion at Mumbai airport. It will also enable growth in passenger numbers. CSMIA’s continued efforts to enhance operational efficiency have played a vital role in maintaining its status as one of India’s top airports. Mumbai Airport is also one of the busiest single-runway airports in the world.
Mumbai Airport has non-stop flights to 118 destinations in 40 different countries. This includes 66 domestic destinations and 52 International destinations connected.
Mumbai Airport hosts operations from 57 different airlines for flights to and from the airport.
Bengaluru Kempegowda International Airport (BLR):
Bengaluru registered a 9.5% increase, reaching 40.7 million passengers in 2024, compared to 37.2 million in 2023. The city’s status as India’s technology capital has contributed to a steady rise in business and leisure travel. This achievement has helped Bengaluru Airport to enter the Major Airport category globally.
The newly opened Terminal 2 has significantly improved passenger handling capacity. With increased international connectivity and new domestic routes, Bengaluru’s airport is set to witness further growth in the coming years.
As per the airport officials, Kempegowda International Airport will handle 42-23 million passengers in FY24-25.
Bengaluru Airport is connected to 104 destinations in 24 different countries globally. There are 73 domestic destinations and 31 international destinations connected. The Airport caters to 36 airlines, operating flights to and from the airport.
Bengaluru Airport has the greatest number of domestic destinations after Delhi in the country.
Hyderabad Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (HYD):
Hyderabad’s traffic rose from 24.2 million in 2023 to 27.8 million in 2024, marking a 15% growth. The airport has seen a significant rise in domestic traffic, particularly with expanded services by IndiGo and Air India Express.
With a strong presence of IT and pharmaceutical industries in Hyderabad, travel demand is expected to continue growing.
Hyderabad Airport serves 94 destinations in 15 different countries globally. There are 72 domestic destinations and 22 International destinations. The airport sees 29 different airlines operating flights to and from the airport.
Kolkata Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU):
Kolkata’s passenger count increased by 9%, reaching 21.2 million in 2024, compared to 19.4 million in 2023. Kolkata airport is very close to pre-pandemic figures.
With a growing number of domestic travelers and tourism-related traffic, Kolkata Airport is set to see continued growth in the years ahead.
Kolkata Airport is connected to 65 destinations in 10 different countries globally. This includes 50 domestic and 15 international destinations. At present, 23 commercial airlines operate flights to and from Kolkata Airport.
Chennai International Airport (MAA):
Chennai handled 21.9 million passengers in 2024, up 5.3% from 20.8 million in 2023. The Airport has shown the lowest growth rate out of all the other airports baring Mumbai.
The airport continues to play a crucial role in connecting South India, with an increasing number of flights to the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.
Chennai Airport serves 67 destinations in 18 different countries globally. This includes 43 domestic destinations and 24 international destinations. Chennai Airport hosts 34 different airlines operating flights to and from the airport.
Future Outlook
With continued expansions from airlines and technological advancements, the Indian aviation sector will see continued growth. In 2025, India will likely see two more major airports opening for commercial operations.
The most awaited Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) is expected to open in May 2025. NMIA should be able to ease congestion at CSMIA. Mumbai Airport’s Terminal 1 will undergo redevelopment post the opening of Navi Mumbai Airport.
Set to open in phases, NMIA will feature state-of-the-art infrastructure, including parallel runways and advanced terminal facilities.
With an initial capacity of 20 million passengers per year, the airport aims to gradually expand to accommodate up to 90 million passengers annually, significantly decongesting Mumbai’s aviation traffic.
Apart from NMAI, Noida International Airport, located in Uttar Pradesh, is also set to open for commercial operations in April 2025. Located in the Delhi-NCR region, Noida International Airport is expected to decongest Delhi Airport.
Expected to handle 12 million passengers annually in its first phase, the airport aims to grow into a major international hub with five runways and a capacity of over 60 million passengers in later phases. This project will ease pressure on IGI Airport and provide better access to northern India.
Bottom Line
The rapid growth of India’s leading airports highlights the country’s expanding aviation sector. With rising demand and continued infrastructure development, India is in line to become one of the world’s largest aviation markets.
Notably, Indian airlines have made huge aircraft orders, including wide-body jets, further bolstering their capacity to serve both domestic and international routes. The ever-growing growth will continue to reinforce India’s position as a key global aviation hub in the coming years.
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