Amritsar Airport Traffic Drops 21.4% in December 2025 Amid Challenges

Passenger traffic at Amritsar’s Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport (ATQ) saw a significant downturn in December 2025, with a 21.4% year-on-year decline, according to data from the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The drop concludes a challenging year for the airport, which, despite a record-breaking start, faced disruptions from geopolitical tensions, severe weather, and airline capacity reductions.

The slowdown was most pronounced in the domestic sector, which fell by 25.2% compared to December 2024. International traffic also decreased, but more moderately, by 13.5%. This year-end slump contributed to an overall 8.2% decline in passenger numbers for the full calendar year 2025 compared to the record traffic seen in 2024.

Detailed Traffic Breakdown

According to the AAI, a statutory body under India's Ministry of Civil Aviation, total passenger footfall at Amritsar in December 2025 was 267,525, down from 340,408 in the same month of the previous year. Domestic passengers numbered 171,751, a sharp fall from 229,738 in December 2024. International passenger count stood at 95,774, compared to 110,670 a year prior.

For the full calendar year 2025, the airport handled 31.45 lakh (3.145 million) passengers, a decrease from the record 34.26 lakh (3.426 million) in 2024. While international traffic for the year was relatively stable with a marginal 1.9% dip, domestic traffic saw a more significant 11.2% reduction.

Aircraft movement data reflected a similar trend. Total movements for 2025 fell by 12.4% to 19,817 from 22,614 in 2024. The decline was steeper in December alone, which recorded a 20.8% drop in aircraft movements compared to December 2024.

Multiple Factors Cited for Decline

Advocacy group FlyAmritsar Initiative identified several contributing factors to the downturn. Sameep Singh Gumtala, the group's Global Convener, noted that the airport's momentum from a record-breaking March, which saw 343,384 passengers, was first disrupted in May by the India-Pakistan conflict that led to temporary airspace closures and flight reductions.

"The year-end decline was further exacerbated by extreme weather and capacity cuts," Gumtala stated. He explained that despite the airport being equipped with an advanced Category III-B (CAT-3B) Instrument Landing System (ILS), dense fog in December frequently caused near-zero visibility. The CAT-3B system is designed to facilitate landings in very low visibility, but the severity of the weather still forced numerous cancellations of late-evening and early-morning flights.

Airline-driven capacity reductions also played a significant role. The suspension of international services by Neos (to Italy) and Air India Express (to Bangkok), coupled with temporary frequency cuts by IndiGo in December, substantially reduced available seats.

Ground Connectivity and Government Support

The FlyAmritsar Initiative also raised concerns about what it termed the state government's "step-motherly treatment" of the airport. Gumtala highlighted a perceived policy disparity, noting that the Punjab Government actively promotes bus connectivity to Delhi's international airport but has not established dedicated public transport links to Amritsar's own gateway.

"Instead of strengthening local connectivity, state policy appears to favour Delhi and Chandigarh," Gumtala said. "Boosting Punjab’s economy requires supporting Amritsar Airport through improved ground infrastructure."

Despite the recent setbacks, Amritsar remains a key international airport in the region. It maintains direct connections to major hubs including Dubai, Doha, London Gatwick, Birmingham, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur. Domestically, it serves cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. The official AAI data can be monitored on their traffic news page.

Why This Matters

In my view, Amritsar's experience serves as a case study for the complex challenges facing India's rapidly growing Tier-2 airports. It demonstrates that investing in advanced on-site infrastructure like a CAT-3B ILS is only part of the solution. The airport's performance underscores its vulnerability to external factors, including regional geopolitics, airline network strategies, and, crucially, the level of integrated support from local government for last-mile connectivity. For these vital regional hubs to achieve sustainable growth, a holistic approach that addresses operational, commercial, and governmental factors is essential.

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