Hyderabad's RGIA Reaches 100 Destinations Amidst Massive Passenger Traffic Surge.

December 30, 2025 at 10:54 AM•2 min read

Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) has reached 100 destinations, marking a major milestone fueled by a surge from 6.2 million to 29 million passengers.

Key Points

1RGIA achieved the 100-destination milestone (74 domestic, 26 international) ahead of the 2025 year-end.
2Passenger traffic surged from 6.2 million in FY 2008 to 29.16 million in FY 2025, an increase of over 370%.
3The 100th route was the newly inaugurated Navi Mumbai International Airport, serviced by IndiGo flight 6E 882.
4The airport has a history of handling large cargo aircraft, including the Antonov An-225 Mriya in 2016.

The Hyderabad Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) reached a major milestone. The airport's network expanded to 100 destinations. This achievement came ahead of the 2025 year-end. The total includes 74 domestic and 26 international routes. This reflects the airport’s steady growth in connectivity.

Network Expansion and Key Routes

The 100th destination was added recently. It was the newly inaugurated Navi Mumbai International Airport. The first flight on this route was IndiGo flight 6E 882. It landed in Hyderabad on December 25, Christmas Day. Airport authorities confirmed this inaugural service.

This expansion solidifies RGIA’s position. It is becoming a major aviation hub in India. The airport’s connectivity is vital for the region.

Unprecedented Passenger Traffic Growth

RGIA has seen a sharp rise in passenger traffic growth since its start. In the first year, FY 2008, it handled 6.2 million passengers. By FY 2025, this number surged to 29.16 million passengers. This represents a significant 17% year-on-year (YoY) increase. The growth highlights Hyderabad’s economic importance. It also shows the demand for domestic and international routes.

FY 2008: 6.2 million passengers (62 lakh)
FY 2025: 29.16 million passengers (2.9 crore)
Future Projection: GMR expects 50 million passengers by FY 2031.

Historical Context and Aviation Firsts

RGIA began commercial operations on March 23, 2008. It was India's first greenfield airport. It was developed under the Public-Private Partnership model. The ceremonial inaugural flight was Lufthansa LH 753 from Frankfurt.

However, two SpiceJet flights actually landed first. Flights SG 397 and SG 393 arrived ahead of schedule. This detail is a unique part of RGIA's history. For more commercial aviation news, visit flying.flights.

Hosting Rare Aircraft

RGIA has also hosted some of the world’s largest aircraft. The Antonov An-225 Mriya landed here in May 2016. This was the aircraft's first-ever landing in India. The airport also handled the Antonov An-124 Ruslan. It also hosted the Airbus A300-608ST Beluga. These operations demonstrate the airport's robust capabilities. They confirm its status as a high-capacity hub.