Hyderabad airport records highest passenger growth in India: Civil Aviation Minister

Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu on Wednesday lauded the transformation of Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA), describing it as a benchmark for India’s aviation sector. Speaking at the launch of the Airport Predictive Operations Centre (APOC) on Wednesday he highlighted the airport’s exponential growth since its inception in 2008.

“From serving 6.5 million passengers in 2010 to 25 million passengers in 2024, and with daily flight movements increasing from 220 per day to over 550 flights per day, the Hyderabad airport has seen the highest passenger growth in the country,” Mr. Naidu said. He noted that the recently expanded terminal now has a capacity to handle 34 million passengers annually.

The launch of APOC to enhance operational efficiency reflects the government’s broader goal of fostering a smarter and more efficient aviation ecosystem. “My goal as a Civil Aviation Minister is to create seamless [and] efficient journeys, using the latest technologies. Today’s launch is not just about unveiling a facility, it’s about opening a new chapter in Indian aviation operations,” he said.

The Minister highlighted that airports should transcend their role as transit hubs by embracing and reflecting the cultural identity of their regions. “Airports should be more than transit points; they must reflect the region’s heritage and offer a sense of belonging,” he added.

Record air traffic

The Minister also shared the recent milestones in Indian aviation. Domestic air passenger traffic reached 1.36 crore in October 2024, marking a 5.3% increase from the previous month. November 2024 surpassed previous records, with 1.37 crore passengers in just 29 days. November 17 saw a milestone, crossing five lakh domestic passengers in a single day, the highest ever recorded.

Highlighting the government’s plans, Naidu said: “In 2014, there were 74 airports in the country. Today, we have 157 operational airports, and my vision for the next five years is to create 50 more.”

Acknowledging the role of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu in Hyderabad airport’s development, the Minister credited his foresight in promoting public-private partnerships (PPP).

“His vision started long before this airport became a reality. When he mobilised 5,000 acres for [the] Shamshabad [airport], he said a new airport in Hyderabad must be built to cater to the needs of the next 50 years,” he remarked. He also praised Mr. Chandrababu Naidu’s role in formulating the Greenfield Airport Policy, which the Centre later adopted.

Published - December 11, 2024 06:28 pm IST