Kempegowda international airport soars: Breaks records in passenger traffic and cargo movement
CH NEWS
Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), Bengaluru, has achieved remarkable milestones in the financial year 2024–25, recording historic highs in both passenger traffic and cargo handling.
According to the airport authorities, KIA handled 41.88 million passengers—an 11.6% growth from the previous year’s 37.53 million. Domestic passenger volume reached 36.05 million, marking a 10% rise, while international passengers increased by 25% to 5.83 million.
A major factor behind the surge in international footfall is IndiGo’s expanded global network, along with enhanced connectivity by international carriers like Cathay Pacific, KLM, Japan Airlines, and Qantas.
The introduction of daily flights to London Heathrow and new routes to key destinations further strengthened KIA’s global reach. Notably, the airport has emerged as the third-busiest in India for international passengers over the last four months.
It currently connects to 76 domestic and 33 international destinations—with Hanoi, Vietnam, soon to join as the 34th. On the cargo front, KIA crossed a historic benchmark by handling 502,480 metric tonnes—registering a 14% year-on-year growth. Of this, international cargo saw a 21% increase (321,418 MT), while domestic cargo rose by 4% (181,062 MT). The airport remains India’s top hub for perishable exports, particularly mangoes and coriander. Additionally, it has seen growth in garments, pharmaceuticals, and machinery parts, connecting Bengaluru to major global trade cities like Singapore, Frankfurt, Chicago, and Muscat.
KIA CEO Satyaki Raghunath reaffirmed commitment to future expansion with investments exceeding ₹17,000 crore in the next five years, aiming to meet the growing demands of both passenger and cargo services.
