Bengaluru airport's passenger numbers rise, touch 31.9 million in 2022-23

BENGALURU: Following the Covid-19 pandemic, passenger numbers have surged at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) for both domestic as well as international travel. The airport saw more than 31.9 million flyers in 2022-23.
The international sector clocked a 245% growth in passenger numbers, while the domestic sector registered a growth of 85%.
In an official statement, Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), the operators of KIA, said that 96% growth was recorded in passenger traffic during the 2022-23 financial year.
Out of a total of more than 31.9 million passengers travelling through KIA, 28.1 were domestic flyers, while 3.8 million were international passengers. Bengaluru airport, which now connects 75 domestic destinations and 25 international destinations, witnessed a 50.8% growth in Air Transport Movements (ATMs) in the 2022-23 financial year, during which time, domestic ATMs saw a 49.8% rise, while international ATM's registered a 59.6% growth, BIAL said.
Max travellers on Feb 26
On February 26, 2023, KIA saw 1,14,299 passengers - the highest daily count for the financial year.
The airport performed well in cargo movement as it continued to be the leader in the country in processing perishable cargo for the second consecutive year. It was ranked third in the country since August 2022 for handling international cargo.
On September 29, 2022, the airport processed 1,612 tonnes of cargo, the highest cargo volume handled in a day since KIA's inauguration, the BIAL statement added.
The increase in passenger traffic in the last financial year is said to be due to the resumption of post-pandemic operations, re-introduction of flights on key routes and initiation of new routes, connecting leading business hubs and travel destinations.