Bengaluru Airport Records Highest Ever Passenger And Cargo Traffic, 25 Per Cent Rise In International Travellers

For the first time in its history, Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) experienced a significant increase in both passenger and cargo traffic during the 2024-25 fiscal year (FY), Hindustan.

The airport surpassed 41.88 million passengers and handled 5 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of cargo. Compared to FY24, which recorded 37.53 million passengers, the airport experienced an 11.6 per cent rise in total passenger traffic. The majority of this growth was contributed by domestic travellers, who accounted for 36.05 million passengers, marking a 10 per cent increase from the previous year.

International passenger traffic also saw a strong boost, with a 25 per cent surge as 5.83 million individuals travelled into and out of the city. The increase in global visitors is said to be driven by the expansion of IndiGo's international operations, the addition of daily flights to London Heathrow, and enhanced services from various foreign airlines including Cathay Pacific, KLM, Japan Airlines, and Qantas.

KIA maintained its position as a significant aviation center in South India, providing direct flights to 76 local and 33 foreign locations. The inclusion of Hanoi in the network in May 2025 will increase the count of international destinations to 34. Over the last quarter, it has consistently ranked as the third busiest airport in India in terms of international traffic.

For the first time, KIA surpassed the 5 lakh MT mark by managing 502,480 MT of cargo in FY25. This represents a 14 per cent increase from the previous year, highlighting the airport's expanding role as a crucial hub for both domestic and international freight.

The surge in international cargo volumes was the most significant, rising by 21 per cent to hit 321,418 MT. Meanwhile, domestic cargo experienced a growth of 4 per cent, amounting to 181,062 MT.