Tuesday, April 16, 2024
In the fiscal year 2023-2024, Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport (KIAB/BLR Airport) reached new heights in both passenger and cargo traffic. The airport saw a record 37.53 million passengers and handled 439,524 metric tonnes of cargo. Of these passengers, 32.86 million traveled domestically, while 4.67 million were international travelers.
“As we reflect on the past financial year, it’s been a landmark period with the highest passenger and cargo figures ever recorded in our airport’s history. We’ve also seen an increase in the number of airlines as well as destinations we connect to. Our position as the No.1 Airport for processing perishable cargo for the third consecutive year highlights our steadfast commitment to advancing cargo development facilities. With the successful launch of Terminal 2 (T2) and partnerships with leading airlines and cargo operators, we are poised to solidify our position as the premier gateway to South and Central India.” said Satyaki Raghunath, Chief Operating Officer at Bangalore International Airport Limited.
As travel demand increased, BLR Airport solidified its status as the leading airport in South India for FY 2024. It offered connections to 108 cities, including 80 within India and 28 internationally, expanding travel choices significantly.
Air traffic movements at the airport also saw a considerable rise, totaling 245,880 for the year. This growth included a 10% increase in domestic flights and a 13% rise in international flights compared to the previous year.
The airport’s busiest day was on April 29, 2023, when it served 116,688 passengers, the most since it opened in May 2008. The most frequented domestic routes included Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Pune, while the top international destinations were Dubai, Singapore, Doha, Bangkok, and Abu Dhabi.
Pax Traffic (FY 2020-2024):
| FY | Passenger Traffic (in Million) | Highlight | ||
| Dom | Int | Total | ||
| FY 2019-2020 | 27.78 | 4.58 | 32.36 | 37.53 million pax recorded in FY24 is highest since AOD. |
| FY 2020-2021 | 10.45 | 0.47 | 10.91 | |
| FY 2021-2022 | 15.19 | 1.10 | 16.29 | |
| FY 2022-2023 | 28.13 | 3.79 | 31.91 | |
| FY 2023-2024 | 32.86 | 4.67 | 37.53 | |
New air services were launched in FY 2024, with domestic flights from Air India Express, Alliance Air, and Fly91, and international services from Manta Air, Maldivian Airlines, and Thai Lion Air. This expansion included new international routes to Munich, Dhaalu, Phuket, and Denpasar, and domestically to cities like Salem, Shivamogga, and Aurangabad. Virgin Atlantic also started daily flights between Bengaluru and London in late March 2024.
Cargo operations at BLR grew by 7.1% from the previous year, reaching 439,524 metric tonnes. International cargo grew by 4%, while domestic cargo saw a 13% increase. The cargo service expanded to 33 destinations, up from 25 the previous year, and continued to facilitate exports of agricultural perishables, machinery parts, and pharmaceuticals. Major export destinations included Leipzig/Halle, Cologne Bonn, Chicago O’Hare, Dubai, and Singapore Changi.
Oman Air Cargo launched operations in December 2023. In May 2023, the airport marked a significant achievement with India’s most substantial brownfield cargo transition, now managed by Menzies Aviation (Bengaluru) Private Limited and WFS (Bengaluru) Pvt Ltd. A new domestic cargo terminal is also under development and is expected to become operational within the year.
Additionally, Air India SATS Airport Services has begun developing a new logistics park expected to span 15 years. This 370,000 sq. ft facility will include state-of-the-art warehousing, cold storage, and custom bonded warehouses, enhancing the airport’s cargo handling capabilities with an aim to reach a capacity of about 1 million metric tonnes annually by the end of the decade.
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Thursday, May 2, 2024
