Bengaluru airport hits 400 million passengers milestone

Bangalore International Airport Limited-operated Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru crossed the 400 million passenger milestone in April since commencing operations, as growth in international travel and cargo operations boosted overall performance during FY 2025–26, officials said on Saturday.

The development was reviewed during the 134th Board Meeting of Bangalore International Airport Limited, chaired by Shalini Rajneesh, Chief Secretary of the Government of Karnataka.

According to an official statement, BLR Airport handled 44.47 million passengers and 532,000 metric tonnes of cargo during FY 2025–26, reflecting continued growth across both passenger and cargo segments.

Officials said the growth was driven by rising international passenger traffic, stable domestic demand and stronger cargo operations.

International traffic recorded the sharpest rise, increasing 23.9 per cent to 7.23 million passengers. Domestic passenger traffic grew 3.3 per cent to 37.24 million passengers, taking overall passenger traffic growth to 6.2 per cent year-on-year.

“This performance, despite geopolitical and sectoral headwinds, reflects Bengaluru’s increasing global relevance as a business and innovation hub. BLR Airport currently offers non-stop connectivity to more than 78 domestic and 34 international destinations,” the statement said.

Operational activity also increased in line with passenger growth. The airport recorded 280,800 air traffic movements during the year, marking a 4.5 per cent year-on-year rise.

Average daily air traffic movements stood at 769, while the airport recorded a peak of 837 movements in a single day. Passenger traffic also touched a record high, with 139,111 passengers handled in one day.

Officials said BLR Airport’s cargo operations handled 532,000 metric tonnes during the financial year, up 6 per cent year-on-year.

The growth was supported by a network of 15 cargo airlines operating across 38 destinations, linking Bengaluru with major international hubs including Chicago, Singapore, London Heathrow Airport, Frankfurt, Shenzhen and Hong Kong.

According to the statement, cargo demand was led by agri-perishables, pharmaceuticals, auto parts, spare parts, electrical and electronics goods, and e-commerce shipments.

Perishables remained a major contributor to growth, with BLR Airport retaining its position as India’s leading gateway for perishable exports for the fifth consecutive year.

The airport handled around 60 million rose stems during the year, with volumes increasing 38 per cent and tonnage rising 64 per cent. Mango exports rose 12 per cent to a five-year high, while coriander volumes increased 13 per cent year-on-year.

During FY2025–26, BLR Airport also received several recognitions, including the “Best Regional Airport in India and South Asia” award by Skytrax for the third consecutive year.

The airport also won the “Best Airport at Arrivals Globally” award at the Airports Council International ASQ Awards for the fourth straight year.

BLR Airport improved its ranking in the Skytrax World Top 100 Airports list from 48th to 41st place. It also received Level 5 Customer Experience Accreditation and Level 3 Accessibility Accreditation from Airports Council International.

The Board reviewed ongoing and future infrastructure and capacity expansion projects aimed at improving operational resilience and supporting Bengaluru’s long-term aviation growth.