BLR Airport sees strong surge in passenger numbers recording a 96% growth during FY 2022-2023, welcoming over 31.91 million passengers

• Out of 31.91 million passengers, 28.12 million were domestic and 3.78 million were international passengers
• The Airport’s domestic sector recorded a growth of 85%, while the international sector recorded a growth of 245% vs FY22
• The highest passenger number was recorded on February 26, 2023, with 114,299 passengers
• In terms of Cargo, BLR Airport continues to be the No 1 Airport for processing Perishable Cargo in India for the second consecutive year and the third-ranked airport for handling International Cargo in India since August 2022
• On September 29, 2022, the airport processed 1,612 Metric Tonnes (MT) – the highest cargo volumes handled on a single day since the Airport opened

Bengaluru, April 18, 2023: During FY 2022-2023, Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru (KIAB / BLR Airport) reported a strong growth in passenger numbers and maintained its leading position in processing perishable cargo. When compared to the previous financial year, BLR Airport reported a growth in passenger numbers with a total of 31.91 million passengers travelling through the Airport. Of this, 28.12 million were domestic passengers and 3.78 million were international passengers during this period. The domestic (DOM) sector recorded a growth of 85%, while the international (INT) sector recorded a growth of 245% vs FY22. In terms of Cargo, BLR Airport continues to be the No 1 Airport for processing perishable cargo in India for the second consecutive year.

“From a passenger perspective, the highlights of the year have been Akasa’s growth story, the launch of Qantas’ service to Sydney and the launch of daily Airbus A380 services to Dubai by Emirates. Our position as the No.1 Airport for processing perishable cargo in India for the second consecutive year is a testament to our commitment to excellence. With the recent launch of Terminal 2 (T2), we are better equipped than ever before, to maintain our standing as the preferred gateway to South and Central India. Our commitment to enhancing the Airport’s operations remains unwavering as we continue to prioritise the satisfaction and convenience of our passengers”, said Satyaki Raghunath, Chief Strategy and Development Officer, BIAL.

 Year-end-boost:

 The increase in passengers in FY23 can be attributed to post-pandemic operations resumption, as well as the re-introduction of key routes and the initiation of new routes connecting leading business hubs and travel destinations. BLR Airport is now connected to a total of 100 destinations, 75 destinations across India, and 25 International, contributing to a steady recovery.

The recovery in air transport movements (ATMs) has been impressive, with a 50.8% overall growth in FY 23. Domestic ATMs saw a 49.8% growth while international growth stood at 59.6%.

On February 26, 2023, the Airport recorded the highest number of passengers for FY23 at 114,299 pax, which was also the highest number of passengers on a single day since the Airport opened in 2008.

Major Expansion:

 Major international airlines have reinstated their operations from Bengaluru. Additionally, the Airport has added several international routes, such as Qantas Airways commencing four weekly non-stop Bengaluru-Sydney flights, Cathay Pacific commencing flights on the Bengaluru-Hong Kong route, Jazeera Airways commencing flights on the Bengaluru-Kuwait route, and Malindo Air commencing flights on the Bengaluru-Kuala Lumpur route.

In addition, BLR Airport has also seen the launch of A380 operations by Emirates on one of their daily services to Dubai and the reinstatement of Air India’s three weekly, non-stop Bengaluru-San Francisco flights. In FY23 BLR Airport also became the 1^st Airport in South and Central India to have direct connectivity to Australia and North America.

On the domestic front, Akasa Air launched operations from BLR Airport with 25 daily departures to 9 across India. IndiGo remains the leading domestic airline from BLR Airport with 57% market share, followed by the Tata Group airlines, which have a total market share of 27%. Impressively, Akasa Air in just eight months since the launch of its operations has managed to capture 10% market share of BLR Airport’s domestic operations.

Transfer Hub:

 BLR Airport is a preferred hub for transfer passengers due to its regional connectivity, and this has further helped in the recovery of its passenger numbers. Transfer traffic constitutes 15.3% of total departing passenger traffic at BLR Airport. The Airport’s wide catchment area, which connects to over 20 cities within a 75-minute flying distance and offers 100+ daily flights, has played a significant role in building transfer traffic and solidifying its position as a major aviation gateway in the region. Furthermore, BLR Airport’s catchment area encompasses ~256 million people, which is one-fifth of India’s population, making it a well-connected and progressive region, placing the Airport at the forefront of the region’s growth story.

Cargo Growth:

BLR Cargo has maintained its position as India’s leading airport for handling perishable cargo for the third consecutive year. The airport has processed 44,143 MT of perishable cargo in the current year till January 2023 (full-year results awaited) and 52,366 MT during FY22. BLR Cargo contributed to 28% of India’s and 45% of South India’s market share for perishable cargo, with top export commodities being poultry products and flowers, and the top destination being Doha.

BLR Airport has also become the third-ranked airport in India for handling international cargo, with top export destinations including LEJ, FRA, MXP, SIN, and DXB, and top import destinations including SIN, FRA, DXB, HKG, and BKK. The airport has seen growth in various sectors, including pharma, engineering goods, ready-made garments, and electrical sectors. During Valentine’s Day season, BLR Airport handled 17.4 million roses, indicating a 14% rise compared to the previous season.

UPS started its operations in July 2022, offering five weekly scheduled flights connecting Shenzhen-Bangalore-Cologne. On the same day, the UPS facility at BLR Airport’s Express Cargo Terminal became operational. BLR Airport has now become the only airport in South India and the second airport in India to have the three world’s largest express players – DHL, FedEx, and UPS present on its premises. Starting from January 6, 2023, Quikjet initiated domestic freighter services at BLR Airport for Amazon Prime Air, providing a daily service between DEL-BLR-HYD. Sichuan Airlines started scheduled freighter operations on October 30, 2022, operating CTU-BLR-SZX routes.

BLR Airport aims to create a cargo handling capacity of around 1 million metric tonnes per annum by the end of the decade to meet the needs of its expanding cargo operations. The Airport has selected AISATS (Air India SATS Airport Services Private Limited) to construct, plan, and manage the cargo Logistics Park infrastructure.  Additionally, during FY23 the Airport launched its cargo brand proposition, BLR CARGO, becoming the first Airport in India to develop a dedicated brand identity for its cargo business.