Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) has emerged as India’s third-busiest airport for international passenger traffic in October 2024, surpassing Chennai and Kochi, according to data from the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The airport recorded a significant 24.3% growth, handling 4.9 lakh international passengers compared to 3.9 lakh in October 2023.
This growth pushed Bengaluru from fifth place in September 2024, with 4.3 lakh international passengers, to third place in October, overtaking Chennai’s Anna International Airport, which saw a 1.8% decline with 4.5 lakh passengers, and Kochi, which handled 4.1 lakh passengers. Delhi and Mumbai retained their positions as the top two airports, handling 17.5 lakh and 12.5 lakh international passengers, respectively.
Bengaluru also maintained its position as the third-busiest airport for domestic traffic, recording 30.8 lakh passengers in October 2024, behind Delhi (46.8 lakh) and Mumbai (31.6 lakh). Combining domestic and international figures, KIA handled 35.7 lakh passengers in October, making it India’s third-busiest airport overall after Delhi (64.4 lakh) and Mumbai (44.2 lakh).
To accommodate the city’s growing air traffic, a master plan has been reportedly approved to revamp Bengaluru’s HAL Airport, which is expected to reopen for civilian operations after its exclusivity agreement with Kempegowda Airport expires in May 2033. The revamped HAL Airport will cater to up to 40 lakh passengers annually by 2047, managing around 2,500 passengers during peak hours.