Kempegowda Airport Soars: Why 43.82 Million Passengers is a New India Ranking
Key Points
- 143.82 million passengers recorded in 2025, an 8% year-on-year growth for BIAL.
- 2Kempegowda International Airport advanced from third to second place in India's domestic flights ranking.
- 3International passenger traffic saw a significant 28.7% year-on-year increase, driven by new airline routes and partnerships.
- 4Cargo operations grew 5% to 520,985 metric tonnes, with a focus on future capacity expansion.
Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) achieved significant growth in 2025. Passenger traffic rose 8% year-on-year to 43.82 million. This marks a substantial increase from the 40.73 million recorded in 2024.
Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) attributed this surge to rising demand. Expanding international connectivity and sustained infrastructure investments were also key factors.
Advancing India's Domestic Ranking
One major highlight was the airport's advancement in the domestic market. BLR Airport moved from third to second place for domestic flights operated among Indian airports. This shift underscores Bengaluru's growing importance as a national aviation hub.
Air traffic movements (ATM) also reflected this sustained growth. The average daily flight count for the year stood at 765. ATM peaked at 837 on October 19, 2025, showing high operational activity.
International Connectivity Drives Growth
International traffic saw particularly strong momentum during the year. International passenger traffic grew by 28.7% year-on-year. Average daily international departures increased from 38 in 2024 to 51 in 2025.
As of December 31, 2025, the airport connected to 113 passenger destinations. This network includes 79 domestic and 34 international cities.
Several airlines expanded their presence at the Kempegowda International Airport (BLR).
- Air India Express, a Tata Group-run low-cost arm, consolidated Bengaluru as its largest hub.
- The airline introduced new international services to Dammam, Riyadh, Jeddah, and Kuwait.
- IndiGo expanded its international routes with new services to Krabi and Riyadh.
- Akasa Air launched daily services to Phuket and twice-weekly flights to Jeddah.
- New international carriers, VietJet and Vietnam Airlines, entered the BLR network.
- They commenced services to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, boosting Southeast Asian links.
Cargo Operations and Future Readiness
Cargo operations also registered a healthy increase in 2025. The airport handled 520,985 metric tonnes of cargo. This represents a 5% year-on-year increase over the previous year.
BLR Airport recorded its highest-ever single-day cargo throughput of 2,207 metric tonnes. This peak occurred on August 7, 2025, demonstrating strong logistics capacity. The airport is now connected to 37 cargo destinations via 15 domestic and international cargo airlines.
BIAL Chief Operating Officer, Girish Nair, commented on the performance. He noted that 2025 was a demanding year for India’s aviation sector. Nair highlighted the airport’s “disciplined and resilient response” to market volatility. He called BLR Airport the “New Gateway to India,” supporting Bengaluru’s global emergence.
Looking ahead to 2026, BIAL will continue to focus on strengthening global connectivity. Plans include expanding airline partnerships and scaling up capacity across all operations. This strategic focus aims to enable seamless travel and support long-term growth.
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